A LABOUR frontbencher has denied having been "banged over a wheelie bin" after she was criticised for wearing an off-the-shoulder dress in the Commons.

Tracy Brabin's remarks came after a Twitter user shared a photograph of her wearing the outfit and asked: "Is this really appropriate attire for parliament?"

The shadow culture secretary replied to the tweet: "Sorry I don't have time to reply to all of you commenting on this but I can confirm I'm not....

"A slag, Hungover, A tart, About to breastfeed, A slapper, Drunk, Just been banged over a wheelie bin.

"Who knew people could get so emotional over a shoulder..."

Ms Brabin was raising a point of order in the Commons on Downing Street's decision to order senior journalists from some of the UK's major news organisations to leave before a briefing on Boris Johnson's Brexit plans when she spoke at the despatch box wearing the outfit.

Shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin said: "The ability of the lobby to have access to briefings without favour is a longstanding tradition and one that is vital to the health of a functioning democracy."

Ms Brabin questioned who decided which journalists could attend a briefing from the Prime Minister's chief Europe adviser David Frost, adding: "What was the selection criteria and if that decision was made by a special adviser, are they in violation of the code of conduct of special advisers and the civil service code?"

She said: "The Government's behaviour in these matters threatens the civil service's core values of impartiality and objectivity. It also brings into question the integrity of future Government-media briefings and the conduct of its special advisers and damages a free and vibrant press."

The Government has come under fire from MPs and peers with many calling for an investigation into the "deeply disturbing" decision to order senior journalists from some of the UK's major news organisations to leave before a briefing on Boris Johnson's Brexit plans.

In response to the allegations, Conservative former Cabinet minister Damian Green said: "There clearly do need to be better arrangements for lobby briefings than were taking place yesterday.

"But I do detect the faint air of fake outrage here."

He added: "What we're seeing here is some fake outrage and a mass outbreak of snowflakery."

Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the House of Commons, advised ministers that there is a "problem" which needs resolving with the media.

He said: "I don't think anything has happened so far which matches what Alastair Campbell did in trying to get political editors sacked and saying they wouldn't cooperate at all.

"I do believe that it'd be sensible for the Government to consider having a talk to the senior political editors who did walk out and see if there's a way of getting over this problem and resolving it."

He added: "There's no more great a competition for an MP to get themselves into the media, it is for media people to get themselves reported and on air - they walked away from it, there's a problem, it needs solving."

What has the press said? 

Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, said there were "very real" concerns for press freedom.

He said: "The Society of Editors commends the collective action of lobby journalists to walk out of the briefing and all eyes are on No 10 to make a swift turnaround of their decision.

"Yesterday's actions are very much at odds with the pledges made for freedom of expression by the Prime Minister in his Queen's Speech in December."