Earlier, Mr Johnson batted away criticism for failing to attend the debate claiming there is 'not much more to say' about the Paterson case and refusing to apologise. And Lib Dem Wendy Chamberlain said events had been more reminiscent of the 'Duma in Moscow' than Westminster. 'Please do not criticise the commissioner for standards who is doing the job that qwe have appointed her to do.' Despite the entreaties from the Speaker, one Labour MP immediately swiped that Mr Johnson had acted like a 'tin-pot dictator'. And in an apparent jibe at ministers, he defended watchdog Kathryn Stone - who has been subjected to death threats after the row. Sir Lindsay warned that everyone must stop 'political sniping' and work across parties to clear up this 'mess'. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle (inset) opened the session by warning that Mr Johnson's abortive bid to save ally Owen Paterson from lobbying punishment had been highly damaging to parliament's reputation. Boris Johnson was lambasted by Opposition politicians as the Commons kicked off an emergency debate - which he ducked claiming he cannot get back from a visit to Northumberland in time (right).
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