Cook admits misleading Commons

Robin Cook was today forced to make a public apology to the Commons in another piece of embarrassing fall-out from the row over Stephen Byers.

The Leader of the Commons confessed that he had misled MPs when he said two weeks ago that there had been no email from Martin Sixsmith, Mr Byers's now departed press chief, over plans to "bury" an announcement on the day of Princess Margaret's funeral.

"There was an email," Mr Cook said. "I would not have used those words had I been aware of that at the time.

"I regret I was not in possession of accurate information. I apologise to the House for having, in all good faith, misled it."

MPs, in contrast to the scepticism Tories voiced over the Transport Secretary, appeared to accept that Mr Cook had himself been a victim.

There was laughter when Mr Cook recalled that he had said there was no disagreement between Mr Sixsmith and Mr Byers's spin doctor, Jo Moore.