The minister was heckled after labeling Angela Rayner as “toxic” and accusing her of asking loaded questions in the style of “when did you stop hitting your wife”.
Kit Malthouse, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, came under fire in the commons while making the comments in response to concerns about a “cover up” over the public inquiry into Covid.
Deputy Labor leader, Ms Rayner, acknowledged that the country has reached the “dark milestone” of more than 200,000 Covid-19 deaths, telling Mr Malthouse: “The Prime Minister delayed the start of the public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic, with hearings not expected until 2023, making a full inquiry before the next election unlikely.”
Ms Rayner highlighted reports suggesting that the Government “trying to block evidence for the investigation, with ministers fearing they could be sued for damages”, adding: “There can be no cover-up or excuses for ministers who evade scrutiny.
“Is he denying the reports that have been in the press and, if not, how can he assure us and the public that the trial will be independent?”
Malthouse replied to the opposition benches: “Well the Honorable Lady has her own brand of poison which she is trying to pump into everything the government does and she is effective, no, no, no, no, we literally cannot debate in this Parliament on the question ‘when did you stop hitting your wife?’ to ask.
“This investigation will be independently chaired and thoroughly conducted. It will have the legal powers to call evidence and witnesses the way others have.”
Mr Malthouse said the government is “determined to learn lessons from the Covid pandemic”, adding: “No one thinks everything that happened during the pandemic was perfect.
“But to begin her meditation on this issue by slandering the motives of those ministers who have put their shoulders to the wheel at a time of national emergency is nothing short of shameful.”
Malthouse previously told MPs: “I have a young man in his twenties” – before admitting it is his son.
conservative MP Lee Anderson (Ashfield) urged the minister to ensure officials are back in the office.
Mr Malthouse replied: “We want to see as many people as possible back in the office, not just because it’s more efficient, not just because we think it’s a better way for government to work, but also because we’re all, most importantly, have a duty to the youth.
“It is impossible for young people to acquire the skills and capabilities they need when working remotely.
“As someone who has someone in their twenties, well I have a young man in his twenties, my son, I know how grueling it would be for those starting their careers to operate from their bedroom.
“Those of us in senior positions have a moral obligation to be with them personally to give them the skills and abilities they need to advance their careers.”
Cabinet Office colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg also appeared to blame officials who work from home for delays in public services on things like driver’s licenses and passports, saying technology is “undoubtedly the answer” to reducing delays.
Labor MP Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) said: “Passport delays, driving license delays, benefit delays, visa delays, what bit of backlog in Britain is he going to break further to reduce the civil service?”
Mr Rees-Mogg said: “The Honorable Lady is confusing two different things. There are no discounts at the passport office. These are proposed reductions.
“What’s going on is that too many people are still working from home. We need to get people back into the office to do their jobs. But we can also do more with fewer people.”
Responding to a similar question from Rachel Hopkins, Labor Secretary of the Shadow Cabinet Office, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “What we are trying to do is to clear the Covid backlog.
“It’s questionable, no doubt, the fact that because people didn’t go into their office — if you take DVLA, the mail didn’t open, this room piled up room after room because people didn’t go in… to the office.”
He said this was a combination of Covid requirements but also the Welsh government’s “excessive rules”, adding: “This backlog needs to be tackled, but technology is undoubtedly the answer.”