EU Referendum (Privy Council) Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

EU Referendum (Privy Council)

Stephen Gethins Excerpts
Monday 14th March 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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My right hon. Friend makes an important point. As I have said, the last Lord President said very clearly that the story was categorically untrue, and therefore, by definition, it must be a matter for the body that investigates complaints about the media.

Stephen Gethins Portrait Stephen Gethins (North East Fife) (SNP)
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I am surprised that the Leader of the House does not want to carry out an inquiry. Let me call on him again to do so. After all, the Government were able to carry out a successful leak inquiry into the Scotland Office’s dealings before the independence referendum. Will the Leader of the House reflect on that experience?

There also seems to be a disagreement on a question of fact between the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary. Does the Leader of the House think that the Prime Minister is handling the situation well?

Chris Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I can only refer to what I said a moment ago, which is that the former Lord President, who attended the said event, has said that the story is categorically untrue. It is therefore a matter for the press complaints body, and not a matter for anyone in the House or in the Government.