A Government minister was forced to apologise today for calling the Commons Speaker a “dwarf”.

Health minister Simon Burns issued a statement after complaints about his outburst. He muttered “Stupid, sanctimonious dwarf” in the Commons yesterday after he was rebuked by Speaker John Bercow for breaching the rules of debate.

Mr Bercow, who is 5ft 6in, did not hear the remark and made no complaint even when other MPs protested.

But John Connerty, founder of pressure group Walking With Giants, for sufferers of rare forms of dwarfism, made a formal complaint, saying: “It is diabolical that he said this at all, far less from the floor of the House.”

In a statement that avoided making a direct apology to the Speaker, Mr Burns said: “If I have caused any offence to any group of people then I unreservedly apologise.”

Mr Bercow made light of the comments in the Commons today. To roars of laughter he told MPs he had "always been short" but was "entirely untroubled" by the fact.

During a point of order, Labour former minister Chris Bryant said to him: "I am glad you are getting short with ministers these days."