MPs approve seven-day Parliament suspension for former Tory minister

A Conservative former minister has been suspended from Parliament for seven days after an investigation found he threatened a company chairman over a financial dispute with his father. Conor Burns, who resigned from Government over the matter, is barred from the parliamentary estate and unable to take part in debates for the duration of his punishment. He told the Commons: “I believe the rules in question are in need of updating to reflect the fact that combining different communications into one single letter can save money and staff time. “I am therefore taking the earliest opportunity to offer the House my apology both for the initial breach of the rules and for insisting on an unnecessary reference to the committee thereby extending the length of the inquiry.” Mr Hands said he would reimburse the £4,865.55p costs.