A VOTE passed to reform House of Commons standards investigations and postpone the suspension of Tory MP Owen Paterson has taken place in the House of Commons  - with Carlisle MP John Stevenson one of the members opposing the move.

Conservative MP Owen Paterson  had been facing a suspension of 30 days over allegations that he breached lobbying rules.

But Conservative MPs voted for changes to the House of Commons standards system, meaning that Mr Paterson will not be suspended immediately.

MPs voted 250 to 232, majority 18, to approve the amendment.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson was among 13 Tory MPs who voted with the Opposition rebelling against the Government and opposing the move to grant Mr Paterson a reprieve.

MPs voting in favour of the motion were slammed by the likes of deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner who called the move 'a green light to corruption'.