Red-faced Lindsay Hoyle ERUPTS at Starmer and Reeves over Budget hints - 'Totally unacceptable!'

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has accused shadow ministers of 'playing games' after they hinted at Labour's Budget plans.

The cross-party Commons Speaker is supposed to remain impartial, and does not usually comment on rows between the two frontbenches. But Hoyle has broken with tradition to chastise Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, saying their actions were 'totally unacceptable'.

Hoyle's intervention comes after Starmer and Reeves hinted that Labour would increase corporation tax in the Budget.

The comments were quickly seized on by the Tories, who accused them of 'talking down the economy'. Labour says it is simply being 'responsible' with the nation's finances.

Hoyle's intervention is a sign of the growing tension between the Commons Speaker and the two frontbenches.

Starmer and Reeves's comments were seen as a breach of the convention that the Budget should be kept secret until it is delivered by the Chancellor. Hoyle's intervention is a sign that he is no longer prepared to tolerate such breaches.