James Cleverly has denied calling Stockton a 'sh**hole' during Prime Minister's Questions.
The Home Secretary is alleged to have made the comment when the issue of poverty was raised by Alex Cunningham, the Labour MP for Stockton North. A Tory MP was overheard making the insult with many pointing the finger at Mr Cleverly.
But the new Home Secretary's spokesperson said: "He did not say that, and would not. He's disappointed people would accuse him of doing so." Mr Cunningham had been challenging the Prime Minister about child poverty in his constituency in north-east England.
Later on Wednesday, in the Commons, Mr Cunningham said: "Before the Prime Minister answered, the Home Secretary chose to add in his pennyworth. Yes, I have contacted his office advising him I planned to name him, but sadly he has chosen not to be in the chamber.
"He was seen and heard to say 'because it's a sh**hole'. I know he is denying being the culprit, but the audio is clear and has been checked, and checked, and checked again. There is no doubt that these comments shame the Home Secretary, this rotten Government, and the Tory Party. He is clearly unfit for his high office."
Mr Cunningham, asked how he could secure an apology from the Home Secretary for "his appalling insult and foul language" about his seat in the North East. Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing stated that she believed Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle "didn't hear any remark of the kind from the chair at the time when the honourable gentleman was asking his question".
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She added: "I understand that the alleged words were not actually used, though I appreciate what (Mr Cunningham) says. But I think we all know that it's very difficult in the noisy atmosphere of Prime Minister's Questions to discern exactly what someone says. So I can make no judgment here from the chair as to what was or wasn't said."
She acknowledged Mr Cunningham's concern and reminded everyone: "I would remind all honourable members of the need for good temper and moderation in the language they use in this chamber." During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cunningham asked: "Why are 34% of children in my constituency living in poverty?"
Rishi Sunak responded: "It's this Government that has ensured that across our country 1.7 million fewer people are living in... poverty as a result of the actions of this Government." Mr Cunningham then shouted out "it's not true" to the Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak continued: "Yes that is true. Not only that, hundreds of thousands fewer children are living in poverty, and income inequality is at a lower level than we inherited from the party opposite. But we don't want any child to grow up in poverty, and the best way to make sure that happens is to ensure they do not grow up in a workless household.
"And that is why the right strategy is to ensure that we provide as many children with the opportunity to grow up with parents in work. And because of the actions of previous governments, several hundred thousand more families are in that position."
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