BREXITEER Tory MP Peter Bone has attacked his party leader’s televised lockdown announcement – accusing Boris Johnson’s advisers of thinking “they are running a presidential government”.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister made an address to the public about lockdown easing measures which would apply in England only.
The MP for Wellingborough said the Prime Minister’s aides “have clearly been watching too many episodes of The West Wing” and said Johnson’s address “may have broken the ministerial code”.
During a Commons debate on Covid-19 Bone hit out at the televised speech, primarily taking issue with the lack of parliamentary scrutiny afforded to it.
"Many of them have clearly been watching too many episodes of West Wing. They just do not understand how the government works in this country."
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) May 12, 2020
Conservative MP Peter Bone lists reasons why the Prime Minister's Sunday television address was "wrong" and breached ministerial code. pic.twitter.com/93VpH5h4RN
Bone said: “On page 23 under the section Ministers And Parliament, it says in bold type: ‘When Parliament is in session, the most important announcements of Government policy should be made in the first instance, in Parliament’.
“Clearly the Prime Minister’s television address breached the ministerial code.”
Bone praised Johnson’s “good job” of handling the crisis – but added that “does not excuse how badly the Government communicated its message this weekend”.
READ MORE: The devolved nations are right to ignore Boris Johnson's ramblings
He went on: “The television presentation by the Prime Minister was plain wrong.
“Too many of the Prime Minister’s special advisers and aides think they are running a presidential government that the Prime Minister goes on television and announces all sorts of executive orders without any reference to Parliament.
“Many of them have clearly been watching too many episodes of The West Wing.
“And they just do not understand how the Government works in the country.”
Bone went on to explain how he felt the announcement should have been made.
He said: “What should have happened was a statement should have been made in the Commons first, the Prime Minister should have been questioned by MPs.
“The command paper with the details published at the same time.
“Absolutely no media briefing in advance.
“This would have given the best launch to the changes to Government policy.”
Bone urged the UK Government to confirm the Sunday address was a “mistake” and guarantee to announce new policy in Parliament first. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said on Monday this is what he would hope to see going forward.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel