Conservative MP Angela Richardson has been reinstated as Michael Gove’s ministerial aide - a day after being sacked over the Commons standards row.
Ms Richardson had refused to obey the Tory Whip on Wednesday and vote for an amendment saving former minister Owen Paterson from a 30-day suspension over lobbying.
The MP for Guildford revealed last night that she had been fired as an aide, saying her decision to abstain from the vote was a “matter of principle”.
But after a dramatic U-turn by the Government on Thursday she confirmed on Twitter she had got her job back.
Ms Richardson, the MP for Guildford, wrote: “Pleased to be reappointed to my role as PPS to Michael Gove. Busy department and work to get on with.”
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced on Thursday the government has dropped plans for a retrospective overhaul of sleaze rules after a huge backlash at what was criticised as a “politically-motivated’ decision to protect Mr Paterson.
In his dramatic U-turn, Mr Johnson also backed the principle that any reforms could not apply retrospectively to individual cases. The move means former Cabinet minister Mr Paterson faces the suspension from the Commons.
He was found by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, to have repeatedly lobbied ministers and officials on behalf of two companies — medical firm Randox and meat processor Lynn’s Country Foods — which paid him more than £100,000 a year.
Ms Richardson received praise for voting with her “conscience”.
Fellow Conservative MP Peter Bone said: “I think she voted her conscience which is absolutely the right thing to do.
“It is just my personal view, this was House business and this was not Government business.”
He added: “Nobody is going to tell me how I am going to vote, and her view is the way she thought fit so she voted correctly - and great credit to her for doing that.
“I personally don’t think it should have been a whipped vote, but there we are.”
