Boris Johnson was blasted by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after trying to slip through a suggestion Keir Starmer was guilty of 'misconduct'.
During a furious exchange between the PM and the Labour leader over the Tory sleaze scandal, the Prime Minister was on the ropes.
He is under increasing pressure to apologise for trying to rip up parliament's standards rules and get former Tory MP Owen Paterson off the hook for repeated and "egregious" breaches of lobbying rules.
Mr Starmer called the PM "a coward, not a leader" for admitting mistakes but failing to say sorry, telling MPs: "That’s not an apology. Everybody else has apologised for him but he won’t apologise for himself."
An angry Mr Johnson then attacked the Labour leader over his earnings from legal work - which were properly declared and within the rules and from before he was party leader.
According to Mr Stamer's register of interests, from his election on 7 May 2015 to 1 November 2021, has earned almost £114,000 from offering advice to law firms. The figure includes £11,500 from top British law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Mr Johnson claimed the MP was then behind "Mish-conduct", saying: “It is plain, from listening to the Right Honourable Gentleman, that he seeks to criticise this government while refusing to explain his own position."
He added: “His own Mish-conduct is absolutely clear to everybody.
“His own Mish-conduct is absolutely clear.”
Mr Hoyle then quickly intervened, believing the PM had made a more serious accusation.
“We cannot accuse somebody of misconduct," he said. "If it was said, I want it withdrawn. If it wasn’t, I will accept it.”
The PM replied: "I referred to the Right Honourable Gentleman’s Mish-Conduct. That is what he’s guilty of."
It comes after the Speaker had twice slapped down the PM for trying to ask the Labour leader questions, reminding him that the regular Wednesday session is "Prime Minister's Questions".
The row broke out after Mr Starmer had questioned if Mr Johnson would back an investigation into contracts given to Randox - one of the firms Mr Paterson was lobbying for - or “vote for another cover-up”.
The Labour leader said: “When somebody in my party misbehaves, I kick them out. When somebody in his party misbehaves, he tries to get them off the hook. I lead, he covers up.”
He went on: “We know Owen Paterson was a paid lobbyist for Randox, we know that he sat in a call between Randox and the minister responsible for handling health contracts, we know that Randox has been awarded Government contracts worth almost £600 million without competition or tender.
“Against that backdrop, the public are concerned that taxpayers’ money may have been influenced by paid lobbying.”
Mr Starmer said a “full, transparent investigation” is required, something he said would be delivered if the Government backed a Labour motion in the Commons on Wednesday, asking: “Will he vote for it or will he vote for another cover-up?”
Mr Johnson replied: “I’m very happy to publish all the details of the Randox contracts, which have been investigated by the National Audit Office already.”
At the end of the duel between the two leaders, Mr Hoyle said: “I don’t think this has done this House any good today. I’ll be quite honest, I think it’s been ill tempered, I think it shows the public this House has not learned from the other week. I need this House to gain respect. It starts by individuals showing respect to each other."
At the end of the very testy exchange, Mr Starmer was also asked to withdraw the word "coward" after Tory MP Michael Fabricant complained during a point of order.
"I withdraw it, but he's no leader," said Mr Starmer.
