AN East Lancashire MP was unavailable to quiz David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions because his wife was in hospital.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry was absent when his name was called during the debate in Parliament yesterday.

His absence was criticised at the time by Labour whips on social networking site Twitter, but their comments were scorned when the reason Mr Berry wasn’t there became clear.

Speaking on his Twitter account, Mr Berry said: “Just waiting with my wife in hospital as she recovers from general anaesthetic.”