Macclesfield MP David Rutley has voted to stop a fellow Conservative parliamentarian from being suspended.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson was found to have misused his position as an MP to benefit two companies he worked for.

This involved convincing MPs to vote in a fashion which would benefit his businesses.

He also used his Westminster office 16 times for meetings regarding his companies.

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone recommended Mr Paterson be suspended from the Commons for a month.

Paterson believed the probe into his conduct was unfair, and it seems David Rutley has agreed.

After a huge debate on parliamentary standards, MPs voted on 'Committee on Standards - Motion as amended Division 100' at 3:45pm.

248 voted aye to not proceed with his 30 day suspension, while 221 believed that he should have temporarily stepped away from his duties as an MP.

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With just 27 votes in it, the issue has split parliament, but most Conservatives have backed the 65-year-old.

Of the ayes, 241 were Conservatives, and one was an Independent MP.

Only six Conservative MPs voted for Paterson to be suspended (no). Macclesfield MP David Rutley, was not one of them.

The 60-year-old has been approached for comment.

The Labour Party tweeted: "The Tories have voted to give a green light to corruption."

The Conservatives Twitter account has not explained their vote.

Cheshire East Macclesfield Broken Cross and Upton councillor James Barber added" "As if the public didn't have enough of a negative view of the House of Commons, now Tory MPs are literally openly backing pure sleaze."

"That institution is rotten to its core."

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See also: Rutley puts pressure on fight to re-open maternity services at Macclesfield Hospital.

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