Labour angers the Palace by dragging Queen into Brexit row

BUCKINGHAM PALACE is understood to be “not happy” after Labour MPS tried to drag the Queen into a row about Brexit yesterday, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

The party’s MPS last night used a parliamentary convention known as “humble address” to try to force the Government to release documents about the economic impact of leaving the European Union. Humble addresses are binding on the Government but are not normally used in debates over controversial topics.

The motion was passed unanimously by MPS after Tories sat on their hands, effectively forcing disclosure of the documents.

By convention the Queen must respond to humble addresses, prompting concern that she will effectively have to pass comment on a political issue. “The Palace is not happy,” said a senior government source. “It risks dragging the Crown into political issues.” Last night the Palace made clear the Queen would not get involved in the process of Brexit.

A spokesman said: “Parliamentary procedures are a matter for Parliament.”

A Labour spokesman said: “The motion does not ask Her Majesty the Queen to do anything… the motion simply requires a Government minister who is a member of a Her Majesty’s Government to produce to the House or a committee a specific paper.”

Ministers are expected to publish the “gist” of the documents within 12 weeks.