Speaker Lindsay Hoyle calls for ‘leak inquiry’ following tuition fees announcement

The speaker of the House of Commons has called on ministers to establish a leak inquiry after the details of a planned hike in tuition fees appeared in the media.

The reports emerged hours before education secretary Bridget Phillipson was due to address MPs about the proposals.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the commons: “The secretary of state is here to make this statement so honourable members will have the opportunity to question her. If the premature media reporting is due to an unauthorised leak, then it is a great discourtesy to this House.

“I hope the secretary of state will be able to identify the guilty party, take appropriate actions and brief me accordingly. So I now hope the secretary of state is going to announce the leak inquiry and we will get all the details of how this could have got out.”

Phillipson responded: “I wish to express my deep regret that the content of the statement that I’m about to give appeared in the media earlier this afternoon. It had always been my intention to come before this House first to make the statement.”

Pressed further by the speaker on the matter of leak inquiry, the education secretary added: “I can give you that undertaking, and I will speak to officials on the matter as you request.”

Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for all the latest news and analysis.