Speaker John Bercow criticised for briefing media before MPs

Commons leader Andrew Lansley has questioned Speaker John Bercow's decision to brief a policy announcement to the media before telling MPs.

Mr Bercow regularly castigates ministers for comparable offences.

In a speech later, Mr Bercow is expected to launch a new "Speaker's Commission on Digital Democracy".

Mr Lansley complained that the speech had been pre-briefed to the media, but Labour's Angela Eagle wondered why he seemed "miffed".

The government "does [the] same regularly", she wrote on Twitter.

The Commons leader's comments came in a point of order in the chamber during a debate on the cost of living.

To deputy Commons speaker Eleanor Laing, he said: "Might I ask you whether you have had any indication from Mr Speaker that he intends to make any statement to the House relating to his speech to the Hansard Society this evening?"

He added: "Briefing has been taking place to the media for some four hours already relating to that speech and the announcement within it, but without any announcement to the House."

Ms Laing replied: "I'm not aware of any such plans."