Boris Johnson will not attend the Commons debate into sleaze and parliamentary standards, instead watching it on his TV in the "corner of his room", a minister has said.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the International Trade Secretary, said she did not think the Prime Minister needed to attend the emergency debate, called in the wake of the Owen Paterson row, despite opposition MPs raising questions about his own actions.

       Fresh from a period of isolation after testing positive for Covid, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to call for more scrutiny of the refurbishment of Mr Johnson's Downing Street flat and his stay in a Spanish holiday home owned by the Tory minister Lord Goldsmith.

       But Ms Trevelyan said she did not expect the Prime Minister to attend, telling Sky News: "He will no doubt - as we all do - have the House of Commons on in his office as he's dealing with many, many other issues that only a Prime Minister that can deal with.

       "He will get a briefing of the key issues raised by colleagues from across the House later on, I believe that the Leader and other ministers will be well placed to take the despatch box this afternoon."

       Speaking later to BBC Breakfast, the minister suggested he would have the debate on "in the corner of the room" allowing him to "hear and absorb" the main points.

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       Boris Johnson failing to attend today's debate on sleaze and standards is not a reflection of how seriously he takes it, a minister has insisted today.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the international trade secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "whoever will be at the despatch box will be announced to parliament in usual way" this lunchtime.

       But when it was put to her that his no-show suggested he was not taking the row seriously enough, she said: "I am not sure that is necessary a reflection of how the Prime Minister takes things seriously, which he does.

       "He also has a unique job that only he can do. If there are urgent matters of state on his desk I would expect him to [deal with] that."

       The minister stressed Mr Johnson would "have Parliament on in the corner of the room" and would be "fully briefed" by his officials, adding: "But he has got to get on and take those decisions that only he can do".

       A minister has tried to downplay comments by George Eustice, after the Environment Secretary said the row over standards was a "storm in a teacup".

       Asked about these comments Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the international trade secretary, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have seen clearly the Leader of the House... set out last week the clear message there had been conflation [between Owen Paterson and standards reform]. That was wrong thing to do.

       "There will be a debate this afternoon I am sure my friend and colleague Chris Bryant will be there listening and sharing his wisdom, as he always does.

       "George set out his perspective. The important thing is that this will be discussed today and Mr Speaker will be there to listen and take up the challenge."

       There is "no doubt" that standards commissioner Kathryn Stone will stay in her job, minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan has said.

       Challenged over Kwasi Kwarteng's suggestion last week that Ms Stone consider her position, the International Trade Secretary told Sky News: "She will continue to do her job and I'm (in) no doubt she will."

       The minister added: "The Speaker of the House, I think, will be making a statement about considering how to mend the way the committee works, that Kathryn runs.

       "I think that's the conversation that we need to have, because colleagues have for some time felt that the way the committee works doesn't have all the relevant protections and safeguards that it should have.

       "We will continue to do that and I hope that Kathryn's situation will be eased, and that those aggressive voices will be removed from her environment."

       She added: "I think Kathryn needs to be allowed to get on with her job."

       Chris Bryant has revealed that MPs attempted to lobby him personally over Owen Paterson's case, as he accused the Government of having "got its sweaty mitts on this".

       The Labour MP and chairman of the standards committee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the pressure from Conservative whips last week towards backbenchers, including those on his committee, was "pretty intense".

       He added: "There was an attempt to intimated commissioner, that is morally indefensive and wrong. There was some attempt to lobby me personally - that is a breach of code of conduct and I had to be very robust with some members of the House.

       Mr Bryant said: "I am irritated that the Government got its sweaty mitts on this last week. On the whole it is much better that the Government steer clear of independent disciplinary processes... I don't know why the Government is still digging a hole this morning."

       Rules on paid lobbying should be "made clearer", Chris Bryant has said, after a minister appeared not to understand what the current system allows.

       The veteran Labour MP told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Owen Paterson had been given a fair hearing which found that he had "engaged in a sustained campaign of lobbying government ministers and officials, on behalf of his paying clients who were giving him more than ￡9,000 a month, more than ￡110,000 a year, which is more than the average cost of a house in my constituency".

       Mr Bryant noted the separate committee for standards on public life, chaired by Lord Evans, had recommended carving out a rule for professional second jobs while "explicitly" banning roles that offer firms "strategic advice on how to get around Parliament".

       "You could argue we have pretty much already done that because we have had a rule since 1695 which says that you shouldn't be able to engaged in paid lobbying but I noticed that Anne-Marie Trevelyan didn't understand we have that rule so maybe it does need to be made clearer".

       MPs should be allowed to have second jobs as long as they don't involve lobbying, a minister has said.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the International Trade Secretary, told Sky News the question of second jobs "has been an issue kicked around for many years - there are arguments either way".

       "My view is that I think those who are doctors and nurses, who maintain qualifications and serve in a profession, should be allowed to do so," she added. "Across the board, I don't think we should have a removal of the ability to maintain or have a second job because it brings a richness to our role as Members of Parliament as well as the work we do day to day with our constituents."

       But the "question of MPs who have jobs that involve lobbying should be looked again," she added.

       Chris Bryant, the Labour MP, has already pointed out that there are rules banning this already - see the post below.

       The rule that ministers cannot be lobbied on behalf of paying clients already exists and "is exactly what Owen Paterson was found guilty of", Chris Bryant has said.

       The Labour MP and committee standards chairman told Sky News there was a grey area and "there should be a rule saying they can have professional jobs, they can write books and do podcasts, but they shouldn't have a job where they are effectively peddling to government ministers".

       Mr Bryant added: "It does worry me sometimes. Last week it was terrible, terrible reputational damage to park that he had worked inappropriately in a layby.

       "We heard his appeal in writing and we listened to him for the best part of two-and-a-half hours but the facts spoke for themselves. He really did have a fair hearing and due process."

       The Prime Minister's holiday to Marbella was "suitably approved" by being declared on the register of ministers' interests, a Cabinet minister has said.

       Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News that Boris Johnson had a "well-earned holiday" when he stayed in a villa owned by the family of Tory peer Zac Goldsmith.

       The International Trade Secretary said the Prime Minister "has managed an incredibly challenging time over the last 18 months, with incredible success".

       Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the issue, alongside so-called wallpapergate, during this afternoon's debate on sleaze and parliamentary standards.

       Last week Number 10 refused to comment on the value of the holiday, as Mr Johnson's spokesman insisted it had been declared in the proper way.

       The chairman of the Commons' committee on standards says he wants to see a "proper and robust system of standards", as he defended the process that found Owen Paterson had broken lobbying rules last month.

       Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, told BBC Breakfast: "The issue is if standards matter to MPs. The majority of us went into politics to make the world better.

       "Last week's motion, which was carried, means we are setting up an alternative committee and we have parked the issue of whether Owen Paterson was guilty or not in a layby. We have to decide it was inappropriate behaviour.

       "I believe in Parliament and the ability to change things."

       Mr Paterson was found "bang to rights", he added.

       "I have some Conservative friends I disagree with about almost everything but they're trying to change the world for the better. If there is corruption in the British political system you can't do that."

       Anne Marie Trevelyan told Sky News the Speaker will be "making a statement as to how we can move forward" on standards reform today.

       Although Sir Lindsay Hoyle's office has downplayed the extent to which he will intervene, the trade secretary said he "will be making a statement about how to amend the committee that Kathryn [Stone] runs", saying the process needed more "safeguards".

       She added: "The Speaker will be speaking today about whether the framework Kathryn Stone works to at the moment is as good as it could be or whether it needs reform."

       Opposition MPs have vowed to boycott the "sham" process following the attempt to combine it with the Owen Paterson vote last week.

       NHS workers should be legally required to get Covid vaccinations before the winter, Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, has said.

       In his first major policy intervention since leaving the Government, Mr Hancock – writing in The Telegraph – warned ministers against delaying mandatory jabs for nurses and doctors.

       His comments will increase pressure on the Government to announce that the law will be changed within weeks to require Covid jabs for the 1.45million NHS staff in England.

       "Having looked at all the evidence, I am convinced we must require vaccination for everyone who works not just in social care but the NHS – and get it in place as fast as possible," Mr Hancock wrote.

       There is a sense of anticipation in Westminster today, with the afternoon given over to what could be a bruising debate for the Government.

       Last week's vote on Owen Paterson and the wider reform of Parliament's standards system will be coming under the microscope in the Commons, with opposition MPs (and more than a handful of Conservative ones) still deeply unhappy with the way it was handled.

       Sir Keir Starmer is hoping to return to the dispatch box for the first time since he was forced into isolation after testing positive for Covid. But will he be able to build on the momentum that began last week?

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