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Brown warned after Commons jibe | |
(10 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown was warned by the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to use "temperate language" after he accused David Cameron of "misleading" people. | |
The exchanges came after the Tory leader claimed the Gould report into the Scottish elections said ministers had put party interest before voters. | The exchanges came after the Tory leader claimed the Gould report into the Scottish elections said ministers had put party interest before voters. |
The PM said: "You're misleading people about the conclusions of that report." | The PM said: "You're misleading people about the conclusions of that report." |
After consulting his clerks, Mr Martin told MPs he was "satisfied the prime minister said nothing unparliamentary". | After consulting his clerks, Mr Martin told MPs he was "satisfied the prime minister said nothing unparliamentary". |
Mr Cameron asked how Mr Brown "had the gall" to accuse him of misleading people over the report. | |
And there was an angry response from Tory MPs, with a number bringing up the matter during points of order after the half-hour prime minister's questions session. | |
'Rolling situation' | |
One of them, Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin asked Mr Martin: "Can I therefore take it that it's quite in order for a member of Parliament to accuse another member of Parliament of misleading the House? | |
"In which case we will bear that in mind when we come to challenge the government." | |
I ask you to take my word for it Michael MartinCommons Speaker | |
Mr Martin said he understood the chief whip's "anxiety". | |
"All I can say is read the record of Hansard tomorrow. I ask you to take my word for it," he said. | |
"Honourable members have got to understand that I'm in the chair and it's a rolling situation. | |
"I have consulted the record and I'm satisfied that the prime minister has said nothing unparliamentary." | |
Mr Martin told Mr McLoughlin he was always entitled to come and see him about the matter. | |
Labour left-winger Dennis Skinner weighed in to add that it would be a different matter if Mr Brown had said an MP had been "deliberately misleading the House". | |
"I have been around a long time - I've tested the market and it's called experience," he joked. |