Alex Burghart

Alex Burghart

Conservative — Brentwood and Ongar

Speaking in the House of Commons on 23 April 2026

Debate

Ministerial Code

Contribution

Paragraph 1.6.c of the ministerial code states: “It is of paramount importance that ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity.” Yesterday, the Prime Minister said to the House that Sir Olly Robbins “went on to say: ‘I…have complete confidence that… recommendations to me and the discussion we had and the decision we made were rigorously independent of’ any ‘pressure.’”—[Official Report, 22 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 316.] What Sir Olly actually said to the Foreign Affairs Committee was: “I also have complete confidence that their recommendations to me and the discussion we had and the decision we made were rigorously independent of that pressure.” Sir Olly said “that” pressure, not “any” pressure. The Prime Minister materially changed Sir Olly’s meaning. Robbins was clear that he had been put under pressure. Does the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister know whether the Prime Minister intends to correct the record?

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