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 senior cabinet minister has been slapped down by Number 10 after being caught on camera apparently blurting out the reasons for Boris Johnson shutting down Parliament.

The Prime Minister announced he was going to reboot Parliament in September, slashing the time MPs have to debate and block his Brexit plan.

Number 10 say they want to hold a Queen’s Speech to set out their raft of domestic policies, and insist the timing has nothing to do with Brexit.

But Johnson leads a minority government - and every sitting day increases the chances of his Brexit plan being defeated by opponents in Parliament.

And today Number 10 said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace "misspoke" when he was filmed in an unguarded moment apparently admitting the move was about Brexit after all.

Mr Wallace was seen speaking to French Defence Minister Florence Parly moments before a meeting of European counterparts in Helsinki, in footage broadcast by the BBC.

(Image: REUTERS)

Ms Parly reportedly asked Mr Wallace about the plan to ‘prorogue’ Parliament.

“Parliament has been very good at saying what it doesn’t want,” he said.

“But it has been awful at saying what it does want, that’s the reality.”

He went on: “So you know, eventually any leader has to, you know, try.”

“I don’t know what the outcome of it…” he said, bursting into laughter.

“You know…politics.”

(Image: PA)

He went on to explain that the real reason it was necessary to shut down Parliament to get a Brexit plan through was because Johnson doesn’t have the majority he needs to stop it being blocked.

“Our system is a winner takes all system,” he said.

“If you win a parliamentary majority you control everything. You control the timetable. There is no written separation. So it’s…you pretty much are in command of the whole thing.

“And we’ve suddenly found ourselves with no majority and a coalition, and that’s not easy for our system.”

A Number 10 source said: “The Defence secretary misspoke and was not involved in discussions about the Queen’s speech.

"The Queen’s speech will allow us to set out an ambitious legislative programme to deliver on our domestic priorities such as tackling violent crime, investing in our health service and tackling the cost of living.”

But SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who is leading a legal challenge to the shutdown, said the clip backed up her team's claim.

(Image: DAVE JENKINS/BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX)

She tweeted: "I’ve drawn this admission to the attention of our legal team. Defence Secretary backs up what we contend - that prorogation of Parliament is for an improper purpose & therefore unlawful."

Labour MP Wes Streeting said: "Telling the truth is a disciplinary offence under Boris Johnson’s regime.

And Independent Group for Change MP Chris Leslie said: "The shabby pretence that closing Parliament is anything other than a device to thwart majority of MPs makes this constitutional abuse more insulting.

"If they’re going to use authoritarian powers, at least be honest about why! But maybe it’s the cover-up that will trip them up."

Boris Johnson yesterday denied he was shutting down Parliament to prevent MPs blocking his Brexit plan.

He said: "As I said on the steps of Downing Street, we are not going to wait until 31 October before getting on with our plans to take this country forward.

"And this is a new government with a very exciting agenda to take our streets safer. It is very important we bring violent crime down. We need to invest in our fantastic NHS, we need to level up education funding across the country, and we need to invest in the infrastructure that is going to take this country forward. And we need to deal with the cost of living, moving to a high-wage, high-productivity economy which is what I think this country needs to be."

He added: "And to do that, we need new legislation. We have got to be bringing forward new and important bills. And that is why we are going to have a Queen's Speech, and we are going to do it on 14 October. We have got to move ahead with a new legislative programme."