Burnham seeks Hansard correction over Widdecombe remark

Andy Burnham has asked for Parliament's official record to be corrected after he told MPs an "individual" was "responsible for the murder" of Ann Widdecombe.

The remarks were made during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. A No 10 spokeswoman said a correction had been issued to Hansard, the official record of what is said in Parliament, and would be "published in due course" BBC News.

Ms Widdecombe was a former Conservative minister and Reform spokeswoman. She was 78.

Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged in July with her murder. His plea and case management hearing is scheduled for 29 January, with a trial before a High Court judge scheduled for 8 June next year BBC News.

Earlier this month, Mr Kerry was charged with preparing acts of terror including against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The charges are before the courts, and the trial has not taken place.

Conservative shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman accused Mr Burnham of breaching Parliament's sub judice rule over the remarks. The rule limits what can be said in Parliament about live court cases.

Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell said Mr Burnham "said that he misspoke, he has apologised and he has corrected the record".

An earlier Commons record identifies Mr Burnham as the Member for Makerfield Hansard. In that July record, he said he was truly horrified by the murder of Ann Widdecombe and described her as a distinguished politician. A Lords record from the same week refers to Mr Burnham as the new Prime Minister.