JOHN McDONNELL dismissed yesterday the need for the government to spend £9 million of taxpayers’ money on pro-EU leaflets.

The shadow chancellor said what was needed was a factual and reasoned debate on the issue.

Tory ministers could be dragged before Parliament to explain the spending of taxpayers’ money on the pro-EU leaflets after a petition opposing it yesterday passed the 100,000 threshold needed to trigger a debate.