All eyes in Westminster are on the chamber today, amid talk of MPs potentially using parliamentary procedure to name the alleged Chinese spy. First up after prayers at 2:30 p.m was the Speaker, who had tantalisingly teased the media with talk of ‘a brief statement’ in ‘relation to weekend media reports relating to allegations of spying.’ Was Lindsay about to name names?
Sadly, not. Like a schoolmaster chastising unruly children, the Speaker sternly told MPs that ‘this is an ongoing, sensitive investigation. Members of course understand that public discussion will be wholly inappropriate.’ Boo! Hoyle did though seek to assure MPs that the Commons follows the same vetting arrangements as the government before adding that the small number of MPs who needed to know about this were briefed on it. Was it Steerpike’s imagination or did the Speaker fix his beady eye at this point on the IDS Tory awkward squad? Perish the thought…
The Speaker insisted that MPs do not discuss the identity of those involved, speculate about the case, or comment on the details, so as to avoid the risk of prejudicing prosecutions.
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