Minister ‘misinterpreted’ after referring to Tory MP as ‘activist blob’.

A cabinet minister has insisted he is not referring to the appearance of a Tory MP after labeling him an “activist blob” because of his public service concerns.

Commons leader Lucy Powell said she had been “misconstrued” as she rushed to clarify the meaning of her remark during a series of light-hearted exchanges with Sir John Hayes.

Ms Powell said she intended to suggest Sir John was against the “blob”, a term used by some Tory MPs to suggest civil servants obstructed the implementation of government policy.

The Labor frontbencher added to MPs: “Maybe the joke should have been passed on to one of the potential leaders of, oh no, no, I won’t go any further.”

The comment appeared to be a nod to Robert Jenrick, the Tory leadership hopeful who shed four stone with the weight loss drug Ozempic.

Former minister Sir John, MP for South Holland and The Deepings, told Ms Powell that external bodies such as the Environment Agency, Network Rail and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) were increasingly mentioned in joint debates.

He told business questions in the Commons: “No one is elected, no one is accountable to the people we serve, we don’t really know who they are.

“So can we have a debate about the rise of blob activism that threatens the separation of powers?

“We know about judicial activism, this kind of activism is just as dangerous because these bodies hold immense power and ministers elected to govern should not be blocked, hindered, intimidated or punished by people without democratic legitimacy.”

Ms Powell replied: “He’s a well-known campaigner for the blob himself.”

As MPs groaned and laughed in response, Ms Powell added: “I don’t mean it that way. Against the blob, against the blob is what I meant, sorry I was misinterpreted.”

Mrs Powell began to laugh as she tried to complete her response to Sir John, adding: “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

Sir John intervened to raise a point of order, further saying with a laugh: “I think the leader needs a few moments to calm down.”

Mrs Powell thanked Sir John for the extra time to calm down before saying: “Perhaps the joke should have been passed on to one of the potential leaders of, oh, no, no, I won’t go any further.”

Ms Powell added: “I think what (Sir John) is referring to are some very important independent financial institutions that I think give this country the financial stability that it is renowned for around the world.

“When we ignore those institutions, as his former prime minister Liz Truss did, we see who pays the biggest price for that, so I think that plays a very important role.

“But he is right, they should be answerable to Parliament and I expect these bodies to appear regularly before select committees.”