Tories vote to tear up rulebook on MP sleaze

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( November 04, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Tory MPs vote to tear up sleaze rules after Conservative ex-minister found guilty of paid lobbying]( A series of senior Conservatives have disowned Boris Johnson’s attempt to neuter parliament’s sleaze watchdog in a move which anti-corruption experts branded “a shocking blow to democracy in the UK”. Mr Johnson secured an 18-vote majority in the Commons to prevent the suspension of a Conservative MP who breached parliament’s code of conduct and create a new Tory-dominated committee to dictate changes to the way standards allegations are investigated. But more than 100 Tories did not vote and 13 defied a three-line whip to oppose the move, including Nigel Mills, who told The Independent it was “a dark day for integrity in our political system”. 2 / [Put Africa at heart of climate fightback, Cop26 told]( Event co-staged by The Independent hears protecting the continent’s carbon-rich landscapes is vital 3 / [Damon Galgut wins Booker Prize for ‘astonishing’ novel The Promise]( South African writer had been shortlisted for the third time this year 4 / [John Lewis launches Christmas advert two weeks early]( Retailer’s latest festive campaign features young boy introducing an alien being to Christmas traditions while she is lost on Earth 5 / [Hundreds saved from cervical cancer by HPV vaccine, study finds]( Cervical cancer could become rare disease thanks to vaccines combined with screening, Cancer Research UK says The Big Question How was missing Cleo Smith rescued? A four-year-old girl seemingly abducted from her family’s tent at a coastal campsite in Western Australia has been miraculously found alive and well after 18 days of intense search efforts. Investigators raided a house in nearby Carnarvon in the early hours of Wednesday morning, finding the child alone and unharmed to the jubilation of her parents and all involved in the hunt. A 36-year-old man has meanwhile been taken into custody. So how did detectives track her down? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [John Lewis Christmas advert 2021 features an unexpected guest]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £1,500 The cost of the transport and administration involved in moving meat carcasses between the UK and the EU country means spending for each lorry load of carcasses. QUOTE OF THE DAY “I think those ideas which are meant to make life easier on the business community in Northern Ireland, especially on the citizens on the island of Ireland, should be embraced by the British government, rather than talking about red lines.” – The European Commission's vice president Frans Timmermans as the EU has flat-out rejected a British demand to end any role for European court judges in Northern Ireland Other stories you might like [UK meat being sent to EU for butchering due to staff shortages]( [Yorkshire batter Gary Ballance admits to using ‘racial slur’ towards teammate]( [Tiger King’s Joe Exotic pleads for release from prison after revealing ‘aggressive cancer’ diagnosis]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.