Speaker rejects claim that Corbyn aide 'broke into' former frontbencher Seema Malhotra's office

Mr Bercow said no rules were broken

Seema Malhotra had accused a Corbyn loyalist aide of entering her office without permission (Reuters)

The Speaker of the House of Commons has poured cold water on claims by a Labour MP that there had been “unauthorised access” to her office by Labour staff loyal to the leadership.

John Bercow told Seema Malhotra that claims of unauthorised entry into her office did not amount to a possible breach of Commons rules.

Ms Malhotra was previously the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury under John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor. She was one of dozens of MPs to resign from the frontbench an attempt to oust party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

She last week accused aides of Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell of violating her security and effectively breaking into her office after her resignation.

The Labour MP wrote to Mr Bercow demanding an investigation, alleging that her own researchers had suffered from “harassment”.

Mr McDonnell said at the time his believed Ms Malhotra had moved out of her office following her resignation, on account of there being boxes outside it.

The Speaker has now replied. He said: “Having taken advice, I am satisfied that there is nothing in your letter or in the information subsequently elicited by the deputy Serjeant at Arms which would justify regarding these events as a possible breach.”

Ms Malhotra said: “I acknowledge that the Speaker did not have sufficient evidence in relation to a breach of privilege. I believe a number of questions remain unanswered about who precisely entered my office and why.

"I do want to see that this concern never arises for any Member of Parliament in the future.

“My staff have been distressed by what has happened. I regret the distress that has been caused on both sides.

"But I come back to what this is all about: Our office was entered without our knowledge and without my permission. And the Speaker has ruled today that should not happen.”

Mr McDonnell said in a statement following the Speaker’s decision: “It's only right and fair that Seema now apologises for the stress she has caused to my staff over the last few days.

“As I said on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday the Labour Party needs to unite and actions like this which are only being used to try to undermine Jeremy Corbyn's leadership must stop."