Conservative MP Miriam Cates Under Investigation by Parliamentary Standards Watchdog
In a recent development, Conservative Member of Parliament Miriam Cates, known for her prominent position within the party’s right-wing faction, is currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog. Representing Penistone and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire since 2019, Cates faces allegations related to “actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the house as a whole, or of its members generally,” according to a concise notice on the commissioner for standards’ website.
The investigation, conducted by commissioner Daniel Greenberg, falls under paragraph 17 of the updated 2019 code of conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs). This section stipulates that MPs should refrain from undertaking actions that would result in “significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its members generally.” The announcement provides no specific details about the nature of the allegations, as investigations are kept confidential until their conclusion, and those under investigation are prohibited from discussing the matter.
Miriam Cates, a co-founder of the New Conservatives group alongside fellow backbencher Danny Kruger, is recognized as a prominent figure within the right-leaning factions of the Conservative Party. The New Conservatives group is part of the broader landscape of right-leaning pressure groups within the Tories, collectively urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to strengthen proposed legislation aimed at curtailing legal challenges in the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
In a joint press conference last week, Cates expressed her dissatisfaction with the current bill, stating, “We agree that the bill is defective as it is. We don’t believe it will stop the boats.” Her involvement in the Common Sense Group, another of the five lobbying organizations, underscores her position within the culture war-favoring segment of the Tory right.
Cates, a former biology teacher, is a staunch advocate for family-centered policies and co-founded the New Social Covenant Unit with Danny Kruger. The unit aims to promote policies encouraging family values. Notably, she has been a vocal proponent of measures to increase childbirth rates in the UK, aligning herself with the views of European populists like Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy. Additionally, she opposes the idea of allowing transgender individuals to self-identify.
Speaking at a conference in May organized by the US-based National Conservatism group, Cates asserted that the UK’s low birthrate is the most pressing policy issue, attributing it in part to “cultural Marxism that is systematically destroying our children’s souls.” The use of the term “cultural Marxism” is controversial, as it is often associated with far-right conspiracy theories and antisemitism.
Commissioner Daniel Greenberg is concurrently investigating seven other MPs, with inquiries dating back to June. Notable figures among the investigated include Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker, and Bernard Jenkin, both representing the Conservative Party. The eighth individual under investigation is former Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, who now sits for the Reclaim party. As investigations unfold, the political landscape awaits the outcome and potential ramifications for those involved. Source thedailycourierng news