You have the right to elect a racist or a misogynist, former Tory minister told voters

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Voters have the right to elect racists and misogynists as MPs – and politicians should not be forced to “promote certain attitudes” with a code of behavior in parliament, a former Tory minister said.

Sir Desmond Swayne has said he hopes his constituents will not choose people with such views.

However, he said that “the principle of democracy is undermined” by a draft code of conduct that would oblige MPs to “demonstrate anti-discriminatory attitudes and behavior by promoting anti-racism, inclusion and diversity”.

MPs are considering changing the standards system in Parliament following a protracted row with Owen Paterson, a former Tory MP who resigned from the House of Commons for claiming to have inappropriately lobbied the government.

The Standards Committee, which is made up of MPs and other “lay members”, has proposed various changes, including anti-racism, inclusion and diversity requirements.

Sir Desmond, a former Minister for International Development, told the House of Commons: “A debate would be very useful in government time because some of the aspects of the report, such as the potential extension of the jurisdiction of a official to what goes on in lobbies and special committees, touches on the principles of the Bill of Rights, according to which no procedure in Parliament can be questioned in any place or in any court other than Parliament itself .

“And indeed, the principle of democracy is undermined by the requirement that we can be led to subscribe to behaviors favoring certain attitudes.

“I hope my constituents never elect a racist or a misogynist, but they have the right to do so.”

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the Commons, replied: “I think it shows that there is a lot to debate on the report and, as I said, I think it is important for this House to debate of these questions.

“Obviously, I am open to a discussion with him to make sure that time is available. “

Proposed changes to lobbying rules

Other recommendations for standards reform include a new requirement for MPs to have a written contract for any outside work that explicitly states that their duties cannot include lobbying ministers, colleagues or public officials.

The Standards Committee also suggested tightening up the rules to prevent MPs from claiming they were acting to avoid “grave harm” as a lobbying loophole, as well as increasing the period during which MPs are banned from calling. lobby after receiving an external interest payment of six months to 12 months.

The government said it was seeking inter-party consensus on the reforms. However, the Labor Party has already proposed its own plans for a broader overhaul of the standards system that would replace a “alphabet soup of different committees, advisers, rules and codes of conduct” with a unified commission.

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