Michael Gove: I've no idea which of my staff called Tim Loughton a lazy, incompetent narcissist "I don't know who made that comment; I don't know who made that briefing," he told them. Tim Loughton, far from being lazy, was an active and energetic minister and remains an active and energetic advocate of children's rights. Far from being incompetent, he was a talented and effective minister who made a difference. And far from being a narcissist, one of the things I found about Tim and find about Tim, is that he has a good sense of humour and a capacity both to laugh at himself and the foibles of the political world. Mr Gove said hostile briefings were part and parcel of politics and usually had to be faced "with equanimity." But he added: "On this occasion the person on the receiving end is someone who gave and continues to give distinguished public service, so I think it is wrong." I would condemn it, I would say that it was wrong, and I would say to everyone in the department that that sort of behaviour helps no one, takes us all away from the work that we want to do. Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg has called for a formal Whitehall inquiry to discover if there had been breach of rules against personal attacks by civil servants and political advisers. Permanent secretary Chris Wormald said he was still considering the "appropriate response" but that it would be, unlike in leak inquiries involving physical information in documents or emails, "extremely difficult to trace" who had delivered a verbal briefing. Mr Gove was repeatedly pressed by committee chairman, Tory Graham Stuart, to commit to gathering his special advisers and asking each if they had been responsible. The Cabinet minister declined to say that he would do so, claiming he could be open to libel claims if he suggested one group was more likely than another to be responsible. Mr Gove told the MPs: "If it were possible to establish beyond doubt the circumstances and the origin of this, then of course disciplinary action would be appropriate." He pointed out that it was not him who sacked Mr Loughton but David Cameron. Asked if he was consulted over the reshuffle, he added: "Reshuffles are never easy. The job of Prime Minister is never easy. I think the Prime Minister's decisions about appointments are always right.