Political journalists last night voiced their dismay over an apparent call from a Labour MP caught up in the expenses scandal to ban reporters from Parliament.

Paisley and Renfrewshire MP Jim Sheridan sparked a backlash yesterday when he branded the press “parasitical” and questioned why they should be “allowed to come into this place.”

The Labour MP had faced criticism by newspapers during the expenses scandal in 2009 for claiming a 42-inch plasma television and “ivory leather bed”.

His comments brought a sharp rebuke last night from the Parliamentary Press Gallery and Lobby, which includes regional political journalists based at Westminster.

It said in a joint statement:  “Journalists have enjoyed unfettered access to Parliament since 1803, when the numbers of people crowded into the public galleries to hear prime minister William Pitt the Younger speak on the Napoleonic Wars forced reporters from their usual seats in the Commons chamber.

“Speaker Abbot recognised then the need to protect the right of reporters to be in the press gallery.

“In the 210 years since then, few parliamentarians have questioned the vital place of journalists, whether they be lobby correspondents, press gallery reporters, sketchwriters or bloggers, in Westminster.

“We are dismayed that Jim Sheridan has chosen to do so today and are sure that he will think better of his remarks when he reflects upon them.”

Mr Sheridan made his comments as the Culture, Media and Sport Committee took evidence from the Hacked Off pressure group on proposals for regulating the press.

He said: “What concerns me is the parasitical elements within the press who abuse their position in here in terms of hiding behind their pen and calling people names.

“That’s the so-called brave people. I don’t understand why they are allowed to come into this place and behave in the way that they do.”

Mr Sheridan has previously urged a bar on Commons sketchwriters in 2009, taking issue with their “prejudiced” description of former speaker Lord Martin as “Gorbals Mick”.

Posting on Twitter last night, the MP claimed he had been “misquoted” in reporting of the televised session.

“Press in Parliament important but when attacking MPs appearances instead of policies said they should be banned. Have been misquoted,” he wrote.

The row came amid continuing industry unease over Prime Minister David Cameron’s plans for a new press regulator overseen by Royal Charter.

Urging publishers to get behind the new system, Mr Cameron said it was a “practical, workable” solution that he was convinced would endure.

But the Newspaper Society and other leading publishing organisations have so far refused to back the plan, saying there are still “deeply contentious issues” to be resolved.

Weekly magazine The Spectator has already decided it will not join the new regulator and satirical magazine Private Eye is expected to follow.

However Hacked Off yesterday told the industry it should accept the outcome of Monday’s Commons vote on the issue and stop lobbying ministers.

Hugh Tomlinson QC, a leading member of the group which campaigns for tighter press regulation, said the newspapers had had the chance to make their case to the Leveson inquiry and should now accept its findings.