Commons ‘patronage’ charge

The government has been accused of swelling the “payroll vote” – senior politicians under a duty to vote with their party – in a bid to head off Commons rebellions.

The Commons public administration committee said there were too many ministers and aides, and “patronage” was being used to control MPs.

It criticised Downing Street for “refusing to engage” with demands for numbers to be slashed.

More than 80 Conservative MPs voted in favour of a motion last week calling for a national vote on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Many believe the revolt would have been bigger if ministers and their parliamentary aides had not been under threat of losing their jobs.

The select committee recommended in March that the number of ministers should be cut from about 120 to 80, and there should only be one parliamentary private secretary per department.

In a further report published today, the MPs say they were “disappointed” by the government’s response to their findings.

Chairman Bernard Jenkin said: “The government say they are keeping ministerial numbers ‘under review’ but that is political code for their refusal to engage with the committee on this recommendation.

“There are over a dozen unpaid ministers in this government – a practice described to us by one eminent witness, Peter Ridell, as ‘an abuse’.

Mr Jenkin, one of the leaders of the Tory referendum rebellion, went on: “This is more about exercising patronage over MPs, and thus being able to influence debates and votes, than it is about efficiency and accountability.