Minister denies Boris Johnson wanted ‘pre-emptive strike’ against sleaze watchdog

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson was not interested in launching a “pre-emptive strike” on parliament’s sleaze watchdog chief during the Owen Paterson debacle, a cabinet minister has claimed. But the education secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “That is absolutely not true, and Kathryn Stone and her duties are the responsibility of the House of Commons, and the Speaker of the House.” Mr Zahawi added: “And I think the important thing to remember is that parliament as the legislative chamber of our country has absolutely the right to look at and improve the system.” Mr Johnson has been investigated by the standards commissioner three times. Mr Zahawi said the issue of the flat had already been looked at by Mr Johnson’s own ministerial standards adviser Lord Geidt “and the prime minister was found not to have broken any ministerial code”. “For the business secretary to use this entirely corrupt process to bully the independent Parliamentary Commissioner is disgusting.” Asked about Mr Kwarteng’s comments, Mr Zahawi told BBC Breakfast: “Kwasi agrees that Kathryn Stone and her position is up to parliament.” Meanwhile, the education secretary said Mr Johnson’s astonishing U-turn in the Mr Paterson saga on Thursday showed “character”.