THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price was one of just 13 Conservative MPs who voted today (Wednesday, 3 November) to enforce the immediate suspension of Conservative Owen Paterson has avoided punishment for now as the government ordered its MPs to back a review of standards investigations.

The vote on the suspension was taken after Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone recommended Mr Paterson be suspended from the Commons for 30 days, after a damning report into his conduct by a committee of MPs.

Mr Paterson was found to have misused his position as an MP to benefit two companies he worked for. An investigation into Mr Paterson's activities found the former minister had "repeatedly" used his position as an MP to benefit companies who paid him as a consultant. It is reported he was paid £100,000.

The Commons standards committee found that Mr Paterson had used his parliamentary office on 16 occasions for meetings relating to his outside business interests and sent two letters relating to business interests on House of Commons headed notepaper.

It described the MP's actions as "an egregious case of paid advocacy".

The MP for North Shropshire, a former Northern Ireland minister, denied any wrongdoing, and argued his approaches were within the rules because he was seeking to alert ministers to defects in safety regulations.

He said the investigation was "a major contributory factor" in the death of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year.

He claimed he was pronounced guilty "without being spoken to" and that "no proper investigation was undertaken".

Today MPs debated whether the recommended 30 day suspension for Mr Paterson should be enforced, with allies of Mr Paterson proposing a new committee to look at how investigations are carried out.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed the proposed shake-up of the rules and ordered his MPs to vote for MP Andrea Leadsom's motion, ensuring it was carried and any suspension of Mr Paterson delayed.

However, 13 Tory MPS, including Ms Doyle-Price, joined Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems in voting against the plans, but it was carried by 18 votes after a heated Commons debate.

Responding to the vote, Mr Paterson said: "All I have ever asked is to have the opportunity to make my case through a fair process. After two years of hell, I now have the opportunity to clear my name."

The result of the vote was met with cries of "shame" from opposition MPs in the Commons.