The Speaker of the House of Commons ripped into the Prime Minister on Tuesday over a “leak” of information of his defence increase made its way to the press before MPs were informed.
Si Lindsay Hoyle addressed the leak as a potential breach of Commons rules and he demanded Sir Keir Starmer apologise to MPs.
Sir Lindsay told MPs, “The government’s own ministerial code says that the text of statements ‘should be provided in advance to the opposition and to the speaker. It does not provide for the text to be redacted.
“I am particularly concerned at the reports that some of the redacted information was provided to the media in advance.
“If correct that is very discourteous to this house – I take it very seriously.
“Or it could be that it’s been leaked, in which case I hope there will be an inquiry into what has happened and will therefore ask the Prime Minister to look into what has happened in this case and report back to the house as soon as possible.”
Starmer insisted that no briefing was “given to the media” and “absolutely” there will be “an inquiry into this.”
The Prime Minister added, “I would not be that discourteous. I spoke to you this morning Mr Speaker, I wouldn’t be discourteous to you or to the opposition in that way.
“I give you that assurance from this dispatch box.”
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