Lindsay Hoyle slammed the Government for the second time in a week this afternoon, after planned changes to tuition fees were revealed to the media before MPs.
Plans to raise the cost of university education for the first time in seven years were reported in the press this lunchtime, in a breach of House of Commons rules.
Ministerial guidance states that MPs must be informed of major policy changes first when the House is sitting.
Taking to his feat ahead of the Education Secretary’s announcement this afternoon, the Speaker once again laid into the government for disrespecting MPs.
Sir Lindsay demanded a full leak inquiry into why the media knew about the planned hike earlier today, giving Bridget Phillipson the benefit of the doubt that she did not sanction the media briefing.
Sir Lindsay blasted: “I note the reports about the possible increase in higher education tuition fees started appearing in the media earlier this afternoon.
“The Secretary of State is here to make a statement so hon. members will have the opportunity to question. If the premature media reporting is due to an unauthorised leak then it is a great discourtesy to this house.
“I hope the Secretary of State will be able to identify the guilty party and appropriate actions, and brief me accordingly. So I now hope the Secretary of State is going to announce the leak inquiry and that we’ll get all the details of how this could have got out, and the house will be informed when that goes forward.”
Responding to his furious demand, Ms Phillipson issued a grovelling apology to the Speaker, expressing “deep regret” that the content of her statement appeared in the media this afternoon.
She insisted it had always been her intention to come before the house to deliver the statement, and confirmed she will be instigating a leak inquiry.
Mr Speaker’s condemnation came just days after he issued a similar stinging rebuke around budget leaks last week.
He told ministers to “get your act together” over media briefings, questioning whether MPs would need to bother attending the House to hear Ms Reeves deliver her first Budget on Wednesday, given “we’ll all have heard it” already.
Sir Lindsay said: “Members may be wondering how they will get a seat on Wednesday.”
“To be quite honest, the way it is going you won’t need to.
“It’s not acceptable, I don’t want it to continue and I want to treat this house with respect.
“It is totally unacceptable to go around the world telling everybody rather than the members.
“They were elected by their constituents and they deserve to be treated better.
“Wasn’t it funny, when it was the previous party, the opposite side were complaining to me.
“Get your acts together all sides and treat Members with respect.”
