'They should be ashamed' Speaker Lindsay Hoyle tears into Labour Government over defence review

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has accused the Government of showing “complete disregard” to Parliament by revealing details of the new strategic defence review to the media first.

Making a statement in the Commons, Sir Lindsay said he regarded this to be a “blatant breach” of the ministerial code, which states that the most important announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance in Parliament when it is in session.

Sir Lindsay noted it is for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to enforce the ministerial code before adding he has asked the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to consider making enquiries into the matter.

He told the Commons: “I am here to defend the backbenches, so please, I hope we have no more of this. It is the Government’s ministerial code, they should be ashamed they’re not enforcing it.”


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