What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A Tory minister made a joke speech about animal welfare in the House of Commons in order to say an obscene word after accepting a dare from Navy pals.

Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt accepted the childish dare at a dinner with her friends in the Royal Marines.

She managed to say the words c**k and laid several times and mentioned the names of officers during the debate on poultry welfare.

Her speech was broadcast on TV earlier this year and recorded in Hansard, Parliament's official reporting of debates in the House of Commons.

(Image: Parliament TV)

She received a formal reply from a fellow Minister who thought her concern in the subject was genuine and fooled the speaker John Bercow, who made notes as she spoke.

Last night the 41-year-old Conservative, who earlier this year appeared on the ITV diving show Splash! was accused of "trivialising parliament".

Former Labour Minister Kate Hoey said: "She should realise that the House of Commons is not a TV reality show.

"The public expects debates in the Chamber to be on matters of serious concern.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"It is sad that she has misused it in this way – it sets a bad precedent."

Explaining why she did it Ms Mordaunt confessed at an event this week: "Some of my Marine training officers at Dartmouth thought it would be a good idea to break my ladylike persona by getting me to yell particular rude words during the most gruelling part of our training

"They failed, but during our mess dinner at the end of the course, I was fined for a misdemeanour.

"The fine was to say a particular word, an abbreviation of cockerel, several times during a speech on the floor of the Commons, and mention all the names of the officers present."