Johnson accused of breaching ruling over ID cards

Tories today accused the Home Secretary Alan Johnson of a "flagrant breach" of the Speaker's ruling that ministerial announcements must be made first to the Commons.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said Mr Johnson released a written statement on ID cards at 3.45pm.

"At 1.45pm journalists were briefed at the Home Office about the contents."

Mr Green said this was a "flagrant breach" of Mr Bercow's ruling and asked what he was going to do to stop ministers "behaving badly" towards the House.

Mr Bercow said the Commons table office had found "no evidence" that a written ministerial statement (on identity cards) was made available to the media any earlier than its release time of 3.45pm.

But he warned: "If it were to be established that that is what happened, I would certainly expect the minister responsible to report to me and to the House."

The exchanges came in a point of order, after the Home Secretary pledged British citizens will never be forced to carry ID cards.