A Greater Manchester MP has accused a cabinet minister of spouting “sexist nonsense” in response to concerns surrounding a 'cover up' on the Covid public inquiry. Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, who is Labour's deputy leader, highlighted reports in the media suggesting the Government was “trying to block evidence to the (Covid) inquiry".
In response, Kit Malthouse, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, branded Labour’s deputy leader “toxic” and claimed she was asking loaded questions akin to “when did you stop beating your wife”. This led to the minister being heckled by opposition MPs present in the commons.
Ms Rayner later told the PA news agency: “It’s not a phrase I would use. It’s not one I’d advise any government minister using. The Government has serious questions to answer about the independence of the long-delayed Covid inquiry – I’d expect the minister to provide me with a serious answer, not spout some old-fashioned, sexist nonsense. The toxic legacy of Boris Johnson is the debasing of standards in public life and Conservative MPs have been entirely complicit.”
READ MORE: 'You will be forever in our hearts' - Woman who died in city centre bus crash named as tributes paid
She started the debate in the Commons earlier, acknowledging the country had reached the “dark milestone” of more than 200,000 Covid-19 deaths. She told Mr Malthouse: “The Prime Minister delayed the start of the public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the pandemic, with the hearings not expected until 2023, making a full inquiry unlikely before the next election.”
She then suggested the Government was “trying to block evidence to the inquiry, with ministers fearful they could be sued for damages”, adding: “There can be no hint of a cover-up or excuses for ministers dodging scrutiny. Does he deny those reports that have been in the press and, if not, how can he assure us and the public that process will be independent?”
Mr Malthouse replied: “Well, the honourable lady has her very own brand of toxic which she attempts to pump into everything the Government does and she’s effectively, no, no, no, no, we literally can’t conduct debate in this House on the ‘when did you stop beating your wife’ questions. This inquiry will be one that will be independently chaired and thoroughly conducted. It will have statutory powers to summon evidence and witnesses in the way that others have done.”
He added that the Government was “determined to learn the lessons of the Covid pandemic”, adding: “Nobody thinks that everything that happened during the pandemic was perfect.
“But to start her contemplation of this issue by maligning the motives of those ministers who put their shoulder to the wheel at a time of national emergency is frankly disgraceful.”
READ NEXT:
