A top Tory has turned Gavin Williamson's most infamous quote on its head – by telling the former Defence Secretary to "shut up".

Mr Williamson famously told Russia to "go away and shut up" before he was sacked last night over a national security leak.

And today Theresa May's deputy said that's just what he should do after attending a National Security Council briefing on Chinese cyber-warfare.

David Lidington snapped: "Members should speak with complete candour within the room – and shut up when outside".

It came in a Commons debate where MPs voiced fury at Mr Lidington for refusing to refer a leak about Chinese phone firm Huawei to police.

In a brutal letter to Mr Williamson the Prime Minister said there was "compelling evidence" against him and he had not fully co-operated with a leak probe.

Yet Theresa May refused to pass that evidence to police.

Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson today told the House of Commons: "[Theresa May] believes there is 'compelling evidence' he has committed a crime.

"But despite that, she does not believe he should face a criminal investigation.

"Where is the justice of that?

"In what world is it acceptable that the Prime Minister should be the arbiter of whether a politician she believes is guilty of criminal conduct in office should face a criminal investigation?"

Meanwhile supporters of Mr Williamson – who firmly denies leaking – said he should face a police probe to have the chance to clear his name.

Furious Tory Sir Desmond Swayne said: "Natural justice demands that the evidence be produced so his reputation can be salvaged – or utterly destroyed!"

Theresa May later appeared to admit there was no evidence he had committed a crime, such as breaching the Official Secrets Act.

David Lidington said the former Defence Secretary "has not been accused of any criminal offence."

And the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “This is not about what was leaked – it’s about where it was leaked from."

Replying to a question from Dominic Grieve Mr Lidington said "I agree with my Right Honourable friend about the corrosive effect of unauthorised disclosure.

"I think we've all got to be honest with ourselves I don't think there has been a government in history from which their has been leaks or gossip from time to time.

"Looking across to the front bench opposite my mind does go back to what we saw under the Blair and Brown administrations.

"But I do want to say this, above all when it comes to the National Security Council but also it applies to Cabinet too, their is great merit in the very old fashioned precept that members should speak with complete candour within the room and shut up when outside"

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