boosting parties were essential work events, this hurts them. events, this hurts them. does she auree events, this hurts them. does she agree that events, this hurts them. does she agree that those events, this hurts them. does she agree that those members - events, this hurts them. does she agree that those members of - events, this hurts them. does she| agree that those members of this, who seem agree that those members of this, who seem to think that abstention is an appropriate response to this debate, an appropriate response to this debate, are wholly wrong, that this debate debate, are wholly wrong, that this debate goes to the heart of the very democratic debate goes to the heart of the very democratic principles on which our democracy democratic principles on which our democracy is founded, and that therefore. democracy is founded, and that therefore, for those people abstaining, they are guilty notjust of cowardice and duplicity but the very contempt f
truth is the foundation of a functioning parliament, the basis on which we hold ministers to account is how we scrutinise new yours, it is how we scrutinise new yours, it is how we do ourjobs properly, our democracy depends on it. it is worth reminding members today before they vote that the public care about ministers lying to parliament. i cannot believe some need reminding, but clearly they do. the constitution unit at the university couege constitution unit at the university college london recently found public anger over dishonesty and politics runs deep. people watching this debate today support the work of the privileges committee, and rightly so. we all owe them a debt of gratitude. 0ur constituents want us to step up and enforce the rules when mps, including ministers, break them. being honest came top on a list of characteristics a publics told ucl they felt was most desirable in a politician. the health of democracy ranked high on
he s accepted that verdict because he s paid the fine and we also know that there are more than 50 cases of rule than 50 cases of law breaking taking place at the heart of government, and ijust don t think that is acceptable. and as i said in the house of commons, he is now asking all the decent men and women who represent constituencies up and down the country for the conservative party, he s asking them to defend what i think is indefensible, and i don t think that s what a leader should do. that s why with regret, i said to him this afternoon in the house of commons, that i felt he wasn t worthy of the office of prime minister and my letter to the 1922 committee chairman says i don t have confidence in him and he should go. the former conservative chief went to, mark harper. we arejoined live by professor meg russell, director of the constitution unit at university college london. thank you for speaking to us at bbc news. i m sure you are following events at the commons very closely