Labour senior whip Mark Burton said he is naturally disappointed that the Privileges Committee will not get to examine the accuracy of the Prime Minister's personal explanation to the House.

"Labour have taken this matter as far as we can within the limitations of Parliament's Standing Orders.

"We believe that there was overwhelming evidence of conflicting statements by Mrs Shipley. The general public will also be mystified by this result.

"The public have already formed a clear judgement of their own. This Prime Minister is incapable of managing even a relatively minor situation. The veracity of her statements cannot be relied upon, leaving her credibility in tatters.

"This does not imply any criticism of the Speaker, who has to apply the rules and precedents without fear or favour.

"These rules may have to be reviewed, particularly the absence of any explanation of how or why a particular decision has been arrived at," Mr Burton said.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>