Owen Paterson

British former politician

The Right Honourable
Owen Paterson
Official portrait, 2020
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
In office
4 September 2012 – 14 July 2014
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byCaroline Spelman
Succeeded byLiz Truss
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office
12 May 2010 – 4 September 2012
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byShaun Woodward
Succeeded byTheresa Villiers
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office
2 July 2007 – 11 May 2010
LeaderDavid Cameron
Preceded byDavid Lidington
Succeeded byShaun Woodward
Member of Parliament
for North Shropshire
In office
1 May 1997 – 5 November 2021
Preceded byJohn Biffen
Succeeded byHelen Morgan
Personal details
Born
Owen William Paterson

(1956-06-24) 24 June 1956 (age 67)
Whitchurch, Shropshire, England
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Rose Ridley
(m. 1980; died 2020)
Children3
EducationRadley College
Alma materCorpus Christi College, Cambridge
Websiteowenpaterson.org

Owen William Paterson (born 24 June 1956) is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2012 and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2012 to 2014 under Prime Minister David Cameron. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Shropshire from 1997 until his resignation in 2021. Paterson was also the President of the Northern Ireland Conservatives.

Paterson was appointed to the Shadow Cabinet of David Cameron in 2007 as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. During the formation of the Coalition Government in 2010, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Northern Ireland Secretary, where he remained until being moved to Environment Secretary in 2012. He was dismissed as Environment Secretary by Prime Minister David Cameron as part of the 2014 Cabinet reshuffle, and was replaced by Liz Truss. After returning to the backbenches, Paterson became a leading supporter of Brexit as a member of the European Research Group (ERG).

Paterson resigned from the House of Commons on 5 November 2021 amid controversy surrounding a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that found that he had broken paid advocacy rules.

Early life and career

Paterson was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire, and grew up on his family's farm. He attended Abberley Hall School and Radley College, before reading History at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He then went on to the National Leathersellers College (now the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies at the University of Northampton).[1]

He joined his family business, British Leather Company, in 1979, becoming Sales Director in 1983 and managing director from 1993 to 1999.[2] He was President of COTANCE (the Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community),[3] the European Tanners Confederation, from 1996 to 1998. He was a Director of Parsons and Sons[4] leather company in Halesowen in the 1990s. Paterson is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Leathersellers' Company.

At the 1992 general election, Paterson contested Wrexham, but the incumbent Labour MP extended his lead with a 2.4% swing.

Parliamentary career

Paterson was first elected as the Member of Parliament for North Shropshire at the 1997 general election with a majority of 2,195 and increased his majority at each subsequent election, up to 22,949 in 2019.[5]

He served on several committees, including the Welsh Affairs Committee (1997–2001), the European Standing Committee (1998–2001), and the Agriculture Committee (2000–01).[6] Paterson is a supporter of the Royal Irish Regiment, which has been based in his constituency at Tern Hill.[7]

Early front bench posts

Paterson was Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister from 2003 to 2005. As agriculture spokesman he campaigned for the dairy industry. He visited Michigan, Maryland and Washington to discuss bovine TB policy, writing extensively on the issue facing the UK.[8] He travelled all over the North Atlantic to produce a Green paper on Fisheries.[9] Paterson joined the crew of the Kiroan, one of the few remaining trawlers out of Fleetwood, Lancashire, to view the fishing practices that have been created by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.[10] He wrote the Green paper "Consultation on a National Policy on Fisheries Management in U.K. Waters".[11]

Paterson served as Shadow Minister for Transport from 2005 to 2007. Whilst he was Shadow Minister for Roads, Paterson researched relevant best practice and the latest ideas from Europe and North America.[9][dead link]

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Paterson was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 2 July 2007.

He negotiated an agreement between the Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionist Party to re-establish the traditional links between the two parties, which had been broken in 1972.[12] This included running joint Conservative/UUP candidates for the 2009 European and 2010 general elections.

News of this alliance was praised by several Conservatives, including Iain Dale and ConservativeHome.[13][14] The renewed alliance caused the UUP's only MP, Sylvia Hermon, to resign from the UUP. Lady Hermon retained her seat against the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists in the 2010 Westminster election. The UUP lost seats at the assembly elections the following year.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Paterson was appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the Coalition Government on 12 May 2010.[15] He was created a Privy Councillor on 13 May 2010.[16]

One of his first tasks was overseeing the publication and delivery of the Saville Report on the events of Bloody Sunday in January 1972, which led to an apology by the Prime Minister David Cameron.[17] He worked with the Treasury to deliver his promise of a consultation on the devolution of the power to reduce the rate of corporation tax[18] to Stormont. Paterson stated that "Rebalancing and rebuilding the economy is critical to the future prosperity of Northern Ireland and it is one of the Government's key priorities for Northern Ireland."[19] He has been outspoken on the issue of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Currently 95% of Northern Ireland pupils attend a segregated school. Paterson believes segregated education is not working; in October 2010, he said: “there's a school in Belfast with no pupils and there's a school in Belfast with more staff than pupils. That's just a criminal waste of public money. We cannot go on bearing the cost of segregation and I don't see why the British taxpayer should continue to subsidise segregation."[20]

Paterson was the first cabinet member to publicly oppose the Coalition Government's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill,[21] defying David Cameron and ministerial convention.[22]

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Paterson speaking in 2013

Paterson was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2012.[23]

Despite his voting record "moderately for" laws to stop climate change,[24] he is a climate change sceptic,[23] and did not accept scientist David MacKay's offer of a briefing on climate change science.[25] Prior to being appointed at DEFRA, he described wind turbines as "ridiculous" and "useless" and called for the end of "Soviet" subsidies that supported their development. As an alternative to wind power, he supported the use of fracking.[1] At the 2013 Conservative party conference, he argued that there were advantages to climate change such as fewer deaths caused by cold weather and the ability to grow food further North.[26][27] During his time in office, Paterson cut funding for climate change adaptation by approximately 40%. In 2014, the outgoing Environment Agency chair Chris Smith said that flood defence budget cuts had left the agency underfunded and hampered its ability to prevent and respond to flooding in the UK.[28][29][30] When asked in a 2013 BBC interview about the alleged failure of a badger cull he had been responsible for, Paterson replied that "the badgers have moved the goalposts."[31]

Paterson voted and spoke strongly against the fox hunting ban, in one speech likening supporters of the bill to Nazis.[23][32] Coming as Justine Greening was removed as Transport Secretary, Paterson's appointment was widely considered to be part of a move back towards the expansion of Heathrow Airport, given his support for aviation.[33] Paterson stated on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? in June 2013 that "the temperature has not changed in the last 17 years ...".[34]

Paterson is known as a strong supporter of genetically modified food (GM) technology. Even before he acceded to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in September 2012, he spoke at length in June of the same year at the Rothamsted Research facility and invited GMO innovators to take root in the UK.[35] In December 2012, he labelled consumer opposition to the technology as a "complete nonsense".[36] In October 2013, he branded opponents of the development of golden rice enriched with vitamin A "wicked".[37]

Paterson was mentioned by journalist Benedict Brogan as a possible replacement on the European Commission when the term of Baroness Ashton expired.[38] Paterson was one of three MPs to leave the cabinet as part of the re-shuffle on 15 July 2014, and was succeeded by Liz Truss as Environment Secretary.[39][40] His departure was widely attributed to his botched handling of the summer floods and the badger cull.[41][42][43] Paterson praises Britain's shale gas reserves as "one unexpected and potentially huge windfall."[23] The Guardian reported in December 2014 that Paterson had spoken the previous October at a meeting of the London Swinton Group, which opposes non-white immigration and calls for the return of capital punishment.[44]

Views on the European Union

Retiring to the backbenches Paterson, long known for his Euroscepticism, supported the successful Leave.EU campaign. Throughout the campaign he was an active voice, setting out the reasons in his constituency for a decision to go it alone.[45] On 26 June 2016, he spoke about his long friendship with colleague Sir Bill Cash MP, who has shared his ambition for Brexit. Earlier in the year, he spoke at an international forum outlining his vision for Britain outside the Union.[46]

In 2015, Paterson joined John Redwood to found internal pressure group Conservatives for Britain, which took pride of place at the party conference in Manchester pledging on the fringe to strive for independence from European interventionism; it formed the backbone of the Conservative effort for Leave. "If there are individuals in the cabinet who are not happy with the deal, they should be allowed to campaign", Paterson told The Daily Telegraph.[47] He continued to be critical of David Cameron's attempts to negotiate a settlement with the European Union over net migration figures, an issue that featured highly in the referendum campaign.[48] Following Paterson's return to the backbenches he remained an outspoken critic of the European Union, and was on the political advisory board of pro-hard Brexit advocacy group Leave Means Leave.[49]

In 2014, Paterson established UK 2020, an independent centre-right think tank, to develop policies to address challenging and complex public policy areas.[50] In his role as chairman, he delivered a number of speeches and written op-eds in favour of GM crops,[51][52] and against the European Union and "exaggerated" climate change forecasts.[53][54][55] He announced in October 2019 that UK 2020 would be shut down.[56]

Paterson was also a subscribed supporter of the Conservative pro-Brexit European Research Group.[57]

Advocacy and breach of Commons rules

Paterson first became involved with the healthcare company Randox based in Northern Ireland whilst he was Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary before 2010 and contact continued when he became a minister and was campaigning for corporation tax to be devolved in Northern Ireland. In 2015, he began working as a part-time consultant for Randox, with the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments being advised at the time that the role "may involve discussions with ministers".[58] In 2019, Paterson earned £8,333 a month for a monthly commitment of 16 hours as a consultant for Randox.[59][60] In March 2020, Randox was awarded a £133 million contract from the Department of Health and Social Care to produce testing kits (at a cost of £49 each)[61] during the coronavirus pandemic without any other firms being given the opportunity to bid for the work.[62] Paterson represented Randox in a call with James Bethell, the minister responsible for awarding contracts to the private sector during the pandemic in April 2020.[61] The government was later unable to find any minutes of the meeting, which the Commons Speaker noted would be expected to occur in any meeting between a minister and a business.[63] A further £347 million contract was awarded to Randox six months later without other companies being able to bid.[61] Paterson also receives £12,000 for 24 hours work per year from Lynn's Country Foods Ltd, a Northern Ireland-based processor and distributor of sausages.[64]

In October 2021, Paterson was found by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to have breached paid advocacy rules for making three approaches to the Food Standards Agency and four approaches to the Department for International Development in relation to Randox and seven approaches to the Food Standards Agency relating to Lynn's Country Foods. The Commissioner said Paterson had "repeatedly used his privileged position to benefit two companies for whom he was a paid consultant, and that this has brought the house into disrepute" and that "no previous case of paid advocacy has seen so many breaches or such a clear pattern of behaviour in failing to separate private and public interests". The Commons Select Committee on Standards recommended Paterson be suspended from the Commons for 30 sitting days.[65][66][67] Paterson said: "The process I have been subjected to does not comply with natural justice. I am not guilty and a fair process would exonerate me."

A motion to carry out the recommendations of the Committee and suspend Paterson was due to be voted on by Parliament. Had suspension been approved, a recall petition would have been triggered in his constituency.[68] An amendment to the motion was put forward by Conservative backbencher Andrea Leadsom to delay consideration of Paterson's suspension and to set up a new committee to investigate the disciplinary process for MPs.[69] Such an amendment was noted in the press as being unprecedented.[70][71] The government of Boris Johnson supported the amendment and issued a three-line whip. The amendment passed 250–232 with the support of Sammy Wilson of the DUP and Paterson himself, with 13 Conservative MPs voting against, and 97 absent or abstaining. The duly amended motion was then passed 248–221. The amended motion:[72]

  1. noted concerns about potential defects in the standards system;
  2. resolved to appoint a Select Committee chaired by John Whittingdale with four other Conservative MPs, and with 3 Labour and 1 SNP MPs, to give recommendations on whether to give MPs a right of appeal similar to employees, whether to reconsider the case against Paterson, and how the standards rules should be revised to be "compatible with natural justice".

It became apparent that the opposition parties were not willing to participate in the new Select Committee. Faced with heavy criticism in the media and from MPs of all parties, the government reversed its position and announced that a vote would still take place on whether Paterson should be suspended.[73] Following that decision, on 5 November 2021, Paterson announced his decision to resign from Parliament, forestalling any further votes and the possibility of a recall petition, and making a by-election inevitable.[74] After a further debate on 16 November, Parliament passed a motion accepting the findings of the original report that recommended Paterson be suspended.[75] The by-election was held on 16 December 2021,[76] when the previously ultra-safe seat of North Shropshire was won by the Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Morgan.[77]

Overseas visits

In January 2019, it emerged that Paterson had received £39,000 of funding for overseas trips from the thinktank UK 2020, of which he was the chairman and sole director.[78][79] Trips funded by the thinktank included speaking at two rightwing thinktanks in the US, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation.[56] MPs are required to declare the source of funds for any overseas visit worth more than £300. Although Paterson had declared the trips, the Labour Party called for a parliamentary investigation: shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, "Paterson appears to be both the recipient of donations and the controlling intermediary through which they are paid". He said without information on the true source of donations, "the register of members' interests is unable to fulfil its vital purpose". Paterson stated that "All the expenses incurred on these trips have been declared according to parliamentary rules", but has not confirmed the original source of the funding.[80][81] In October 2019, he announced the body's forthcoming shutdown.[56]

Personal life

Paterson married Rose Ridley, the daughter of Matthew White Ridley, 4th Viscount Ridley, and sister of Matt Ridley, in 1980.[82] They have two sons, Felix and Ned, and a daughter, Evie.[83] He lives near Ellesmere, north Shropshire, and also has a house in Drôme, France.[84]

Paterson is a horse rider and racer, and has ridden across Turkmenistan and Mongolia.[85] His daughter, Evie, is an eventer who won the British Junior Eventing Championships in 2008, aged 16.[86] In January 2018, Paterson fell from a horse while riding and broke three vertebrae in his back.[87]

Paterson's wife Rose died on 24 June 2020, her husband's birthday. Her body was found in the early hours of the morning in woodland at their country house, Shellbrook Hill.[88][89] The coroner later ruled her death to be suicide by hanging.[90]

Honours

Paterson was sworn in as a member of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council in 2010 upon his appointment to the British Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. This gave him the honorific title "The Right Honourable" for life.

References

  1. ^ a b Carrington, Damian (11 October 2012). "Owen Paterson: true blue countryman putting wind up green campaigners". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Owen Paterson appointed as DEFRA secretary – Farmers Weekly". Farmers Weekly. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ "COTANCE". Euroleather. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. ^ "www.parsonsandsons.co.uk". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Shropshire North parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Rt Hon Owen Paterson". Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Politicians clash in wristband row". Shropshire Star. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. ^ Paterson, Owen (6 December 2005). "Owen Paterson MP visits the USA to discuss Bovine TB Policy". Farmers Weekly. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b "The Conservative Party: Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP". Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.[dead link]
  10. ^ Charles Clover, Richard North (18 October 2004). "Fishermen call for end to slaughter caused by EU net laws". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  11. ^ Paterson MP, Owen (January 2005), Consultation on a National Policy on Fisheries Management in UK Waters (PDF), Conservative Party, archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2005, retrieved 16 September 2011
  12. ^ Porter, Andrew (23 July 2008). "David Cameron launches biggest Conservative shake-up for decades". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  13. ^ Dale, Iain (24 July 2008). "A Landmark Day for Northern Ireland Politics". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  14. ^ Isaby, Jonathan (21 November 2008). "In praise of Owen Paterson and the Tory/UUP deal". ConservativeHome. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Owen Paterson new NI Secretary of State". BBC News. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Privy Council appointments, 13 May 2010". Privy Council. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Bloody Sunday: PM David Cameron's full statement". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  18. ^ "NI corporation tax cut 'benefits all' – Owen Paterson". BBC News. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  19. ^ Secretary of State Owen Paterson MP Welcomes High Level of Response to Corporation Tax Consultation. 11 July 2011. Archived 20 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ "Paterson sparks segregation row – UTV Live News". U.tv. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  21. ^ Watt, Nicholas (22 May 2012). "Tory minister Owen Paterson opposes gay marriage". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  22. ^ "Owen Paterson to defy Cameron on gay marriage vote". The Shropshire Star. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  23. ^ a b c d Watt, Holly (4 September 2012). "Owen Paterson becomes new Environment Secretary". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Owen Paterson's Voting Record". They Work For You. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  25. ^ Webster, Ben (28 September 2013). "Climate expert David MacKay plants artificial tree idea for reducing warming". The Australian. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  26. ^ Vaughan, Adam (30 September 2013). "Owen Paterson v the science of climate change". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  27. ^ Syal, Rajeev (30 September 2013). "Global warming can have a positive side, says Owen Paterson". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  28. ^ Carrington, Damian (8 July 2014). "Flooding: documents reveal UK government's spin on protection cuts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  29. ^ Carrington, Damian (27 January 2014). "UK climate change spend almost halved under Owen Paterson, figures reveal". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  30. ^ Carrington, Damian (26 June 2014). "Lord Smith: flooding budget cuts put UK at the mercy of extreme weather". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  31. ^ "Badgers 'moved goalposts' says minister Owen Paterson". BBC News. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  32. ^ "Owen Paterson faces choice between ideology and evidence". Business Green. September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Green groups' concern over Owen Paterson record". BBC News. September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  34. ^ Cusick, James (29 November 2013). "Owen Paterson, his sceptic brother-in-law, and how Defra went cold on climate change". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  35. ^ "Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP speech to Rothamsted Research – Speeches". Gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  36. ^ Kirkup, James; Winnett, Rob (9 December 2012). "Food minister Owen Paterson backs GM crops". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  37. ^ "GM 'golden rice' opponents wicked, says minister Owen Paterson". BBC News. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  38. ^ "Opinion". The Telegraph. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014.
  39. ^ Phipps, Claire (15 July 2014). "Reshuffle at a glance: who's in and who's out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  40. ^ "LIVE: Who's in and who's out – the full reshuffle list". New Statesman. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  41. ^ "Cabinet reshuffle: A new-look team that David Cameron hopes will keep him in Downing Street". The Independent. London. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  42. ^ "Seven Priorities for Liz Truss, the New Environment Secretary". HuffPost. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Badger cull protesters crow as Owen Paterson sacked in Cabinet reshuffle". Somerset Live. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  44. ^ Mason, Rowena (17 December 2014). "Senior Conservatives in spotlight over speeches to 'vile' rightwing fringe group". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  45. ^ "North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson emerges as key figure for Brexit". Shropshire Star. 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  46. ^ Paterson, Owen (25 April 2016). "The Future of Europe". Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  47. ^ "50 Conservative MPs ready to lead campaign for EU exit". The Guardian. Press Association. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  48. ^ Sparrow, Andrew (30 November 2014). "Owen Paterson: immigration issue cannot wait for EU renegotiation". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  49. ^ "Leave means leave". Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  50. ^ UK 2020. "UK 2020 About". Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Paterson, Owen (29 November 2014). "Frankenfine". The Economist. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  52. ^ Webster, Ben (24 February 2015). "GM protesters 'condemning millions to hunger'". The Times. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  53. ^ "Ex-Conservative minister Owen Paterson urges UK's EU exit". BBC News. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  54. ^ Chakelian, Anoosh (15 October 2014). "Former Environment Secretary: climate change forecasts are 'wildly exaggerated'". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  55. ^ Driver, Alistair (5 August 2015). "Owen Paterson – still battling the 'green blob' one year on". Farmers Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  56. ^ a b c Pegg, David; Evans, Rob; Lawrence, Felicity (27 October 2019). "Owen Paterson to close private thinktank that paid for overseas trips". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  57. ^ "Revealed: These 70 Tory MPs Support The Hard Brexit Group Led By Jacob Rees-Mogg". buzzfeed.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  58. ^ Malnick, Edward (15 August 2015). "Former ministers walk through revolving door into boardrooms". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  59. ^ Andrews, Mark. "North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson denies breaking lobbying rules". www.shropshirestar.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  60. ^ Vaughan, Richard (26 October 2021). "Former cabinet minister faces 30-day suspension for 'egregious' breach of lobbying rules". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  61. ^ a b c Garside, Juliette; Smith, Joseph (4 November 2020). "Tory-linked firm involved in testing failure given new £347m Covid contract". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  62. ^ Neate, Rupert; Garside, Juliette; Lawrence, Felicity; Evans, Rob (11 May 2020). "Healthcare firm advised by Owen Paterson won £133m coronavirus testing contract unopposed". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  63. ^ Morris, Sophie (17 November 2021). "Owen Paterson: Minister confirms government 'unable to locate' minutes of call between ex-Tory MP, Randox and officials". Sky News. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  64. ^ "Mr Owen Paterson". Committee on Standards – House of Commons. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  65. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey (26 October 2021). "MP Owen Paterson faces suspension for breaking lobbying rules". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  66. ^ "Committee on Standards publish report on the conduct of Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP". UK Parliament. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  67. ^ "Owen Paterson: Boris Johnson backs shake-up of MP standards rules". BBC News. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  68. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey (2 November 2021). "Why are stakes so high in Owen Paterson suspension vote?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  69. ^ "Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up". BBC News. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  70. ^ "Owen Paterson: Tories accused of bringing 'shame on democracy' as former minister avoids suspension in Commons vote". Sky News. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  71. ^ "'Shameful': Tory MP paid £100,000 for lobbying avoids suspension after colleagues change rules". HeraldScotland. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  72. ^ "Committee on Standards Volume 702: debated on Wednesday 3 November 2021". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. 3 November 2021.
  73. ^ "Owen Paterson row: Government U-turn over MPs' conduct plan". BBC News. 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  74. ^ "Tory MP Owen Paterson resigns amid standards row". BBC News. 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  75. ^ "Tory U-turn complete as MPs approve Owen Paterson report". The Guardian. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  76. ^ "North Shropshire by-election: Tories face anxious wait as Liberal Democrats hope to spring surprise". Sky News. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  77. ^ "Tories lose North Shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years". BBC News. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  78. ^ "UK 2020 LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  79. ^ Pegg, David; Evans, Rob; Lawrence, Felicity (22 January 2019). "Owen Paterson trips worth £39,000 funded by unknown donors". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  80. ^ "House of Commons – The Code of Conduct together with The Guide to the Rules relating to the conduct of Members". publications.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  81. ^ Pegg, David; Evans, Rob; Lawrence, Felicity (24 January 2019). "Labour demands inquiry into £39,000 funding for Owen Paterson's trips". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  82. ^ "www.burkespeerage.com". Burke's Peerage. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  83. ^ "About Owen". Owen Paterson MP. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  84. ^ "Country Life interviews Owen Patterson". 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  85. ^ Jardine, Cassandra (5 August 2011). "Owen Paterson on the Mongol Derby". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  86. ^ "MP's daughter scoops title". Shropshire Star. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  87. ^ Horton, Helena (30 January 2018). "Tory MP Owen Paterson breaks his back after falling off horse". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  88. ^ PA Media (24 June 2020). "Rose Paterson, Aintree chair and wife of Tory ex-minister, found dead at home". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  89. ^ Traynor, Luke (24 June 2020). "Chair of Aintree Racecourse Rose Paterson has died". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  90. ^ White, Barrie (22 September 2020). "North Shropshire MP's wife Rose Paterson's death was suicide, coroner rules". Border Counties Advertizer. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Owen Paterson.
  • Owen Paterson MP official constituency website
  • Profile at the Conservative Party
  • Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
  • Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
  • Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
  • Voting record at Public Whip
  • Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
  • Guide to new Cabinet members: Owen Paterson, BBC News, 13 May 2010
  • Debrett's People of Today
  • UK 2020 think tank website
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for North Shropshire

19972021
Succeeded by
Helen Morgan
Political offices
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2007–2010
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
2012–2014
Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
Cabinet of David Cameron (2010–2016)
Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries of State
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Deputy Prime Minister
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Second Lord of the Treasury
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Justice
Lord Chancellor
Secretary of State for Defence
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Education
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for International Development
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Cabinet members not heading a ministry
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General
Minister of State for Policy
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister of State for Universities and Science
Leader of the House of Commons
Chief Whip in the House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Minister without Portfolio
Attorney General for England and Wales
Advocate General for Northern Ireland
Minister for Women and Equalities
Minister of State for Employment
Lord Privy Seal
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • v
  • t
  • e
Secretaries of State for Environment
Secretaries of State for the Environment,
Transport and the Regions
Secretaries of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • United States
People
  • UK Parliament