Owen Paterson Claims Lobbying Investigation Breached Human Rights in UK Government Scandal

Strategic Insights -

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson has lodged a formal complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that the lobbying investigation that sparked a government scandal and led to his resignation breached his human rights. Specifically, Paterson alleges that his Article 8 rights under the UK Human Rights Act, relating to respecting his private and family life, were infringed. The investigation found that Paterson improperly lobbied the government on behalf of two companies in Northern Ireland, and he resigned as the MP for North Shropshire in November 2021.

Key Takeaways:

  • Owen Paterson, former Northern Ireland Secretary, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that the lobbying investigation that led to his resignation breached his human rights.
  • The investigation found that Paterson improperly lobbied the government on behalf of two companies in Northern Ireland, Randox and Lynn's Country Foods, for which he was paid over £100,000 a year.
  • The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) reported that Paterson made seven approaches to the same agency for Lynn's Country Foods between November 2017 and July 2018, and four approaches to ministers in the Department for International Development relating to Randox and blood testing technology.
  • Paterson's complaint claims that the process by which the allegations against him were investigated and considered was not fair in many basic respects, and damaged his good reputation.
  • If the case is taken forward and the court finds that Paterson's rights were breached, the UK will have to implement its judgment and remedy any unlawful conduct potentially by overturning the original standards investigation and running a new process.
  • This case is believed to be the first time a British MP has complained to the European Court of Human Rights.
  • Paterson previously called for the UK to be "freed from the writ" of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in a 2014 speech, and advocated for the repeal of the Human Rights Act.

Statistics:

  • 7: The number of approaches made by Paterson to the same agency for Lynn's Country Foods between November 2017 and July 2018.
  • 4: The number of approaches made by Paterson to ministers in the Department for International Development relating to Randox and blood testing technology.
  • £100,000+: The annual payments made to Paterson by Randox and Lynn's Country Foods.
  • November 2021: The month Paterson resigned as the MP for North Shropshire following the lobbying investigation.
  • October 2021: The month the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS) reported its findings on Paterson's conduct breaches.
  • 2014: The year Paterson made a speech calling for the UK to be "freed from the writ" of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • European Court of Human Rights
  • Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (PCS)
  • BBC News
  • The Guardian