Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has taken a furious swipe at an SNP MP over a "misleading" Twitter video in which he called for a probe into remarks by Nadine Dorries.
Sir Lindsay accused John Nicolson of posting a "partial and biased" video that he said led to him being unfairly targeted - and demanded an apology.
In a scathing earbashing, the Speaker voiced his fury over Mr Nicolson's post - which has still not been deleted.
Mr Nicolson had called on Sir Lindsay to refer Ms Dorries to the powerful Parliamentary Privileges Committee over claims she made misleading remarks about Channel 4.
But Sir Lindsay opted not to do so after a cross-party committee decided the matter should not be escalated.
It prompted Mr Nicolson to post the clip to his nearly 53,000 followers appearing to criticise the Speaker.
The spat stems from a bitter row after the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee ruled there was no evidence to back up Ms Dorries' claim, made in May, that paid actors were used on a documentary.
The committee said it was not proceeding after Ms Dorries left her role as Culture Secretary, as she could no longer oversee her plan to privatise the channel.
Addressing the Commons today, Sir Lindsay told MPs he had responded to a letter from Mr Nicolson saying he would not be recommending the matter proceeded, after the DCMS Committee came to the same conclusion.
In response the SNP politician took to Twitter on November 16 with a video claiming the Speaker had decided not to refer Ms Dorries, telling viewers: "In other words she'll suffer no consequences for what she's done."
It sparked a series of angry responses about Sir Lindsay.
Today the Speaker told the House he was far from happy, stating: "I considered it appropriate to respect the committee's assessment of the situation.
"Correspondence on matters of privilege is private. Indeed I go to great lengths to ensure members can write to me in confidence on any matter knowing their communication will remain private.
"I expect the same courtesy in my replies. The Honourable member has seen fit to give a partial and biased account on Twitter and I await his apology."
He then fumed: "I stress, it is not the way we do business in this House."
Mr Nicolson appeared to double down though, making it clear he felt Ms Dorries should be punished.
He told the Commons there is "considerable public interest" in what happens next, asking: "If someone misleads a committee, what should happen next?"
The SNP MP said he "deplores" social media pile-ons, saying he had been on the receiving end and found it "exceedingly unpleasant".
But Sir Linsdsay hit back, stating: "He's misled the people of the people of this country, it put me in a bad light to the people of this country and I don't expect that to happen for an impartial speaker."
Last month DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP said: “We recognise that those giving evidence will occasionally make mistakes, but it is vitally important for the integrity of parliamentary scrutiny that they are then corrected. We are disappointed that despite being provided with several opportunities to reconsider her position, the former Secretary of State failed to countenance that her recollections may have been flawed.
"People will be able to draw their own conclusions about the contrast between her claims and subsequent correspondence with the committee, and Channel 4’s thorough investigation.”
A report by the committee published last month said: "Had Ms Dorries remained Secretary of State, driving a policy of selling the channel, we may have sought a referral to the Privileges Committee but, as her claims have not inhibited the work of the Committee and she no longer has a position of power over the future of Channel 4, we are, instead, publishing this Report to enable the House, and its Members, to draw their own conclusions."
