Speaker apologises after Commons descends into chaos over ceasefire votes

Feb 21, 2024 at 8:03 PM

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has apologised to MPs after the chamber descended into chaos round a movement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Wednesday was designated as an opposition day for the SNP, which selected to debate the Israel-Hamas struggle – and sought to influence MPs to again its requires a right away halt to the preventing.

But a controversial choice from Sir Lindsay to permit a Labour modification to be put to the House led to an uproar from Tory MPs – and finally noticed the federal government pledging to “play no further part” in proceedings, in addition to the SNP not even attending to vote on its authentic proposal.

After Conservative and SNP politicians stormed out of the chamber in protest, Sir Lindsay returned to the Commons to face his critics, apologising for “how it all ended up” and saying he took “responsibility” for his actions.

But SNP chief Stephen Flynn stated he would “take significant convincing” that the Speaker’s place was “not now intolerable”.

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Today’s debate was set to be the conclusion of days of drama over whether or not Labour would change its place on the battle within the Middle East.

The celebration initially supported the federal government’s stance, calling for a pause within the preventing reasonably than a ceasefire, because it didn’t imagine the latter could be sustainable.

However, after the SNP determined to pressure the problem to a vote within the Commons, Labour went additional – placing ahead an modification calling instead for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, albeit nonetheless with its preliminary caveats that either side would wish to put down their arms and Israeli hostages must be launched.

A recent row erupted on Wednesday after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke with convention to place Labour’s modification to a vote – as opposition events can not normally amend opposition motions, solely the federal government.

Labour sources informed Sky News Sir Lindsay – who was a Labour MP earlier than taking up the position of Speaker – had been pressured by celebration whips to pick it, however a celebration spokesman denied the declare.

However, Tory MPs accused him of constructing an “overtly political decision” to pick the modification as a way to stop Sir Keir Starmer going through a rise up from his backbenchers – who might have supported the SNP’s movement and not using a Labour possibility.

In a shock transfer, Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt introduced the federal government could be withdrawing its personal modification to the SNP’s movement – which reiterated the federal government’s present place – saying the Conservatives would “play no further part in the decision this House takes on today’s proceedings”.

She stated the choice of Sir Lindsay to pick the Labour modification had “undermined the confidence” of MPs in procedures, “raised temperatures in this House on an issue where feelings are already running high” and “put honourable and right honourable members in a more difficult position”.

But because of parliamentary guidelines, the choice to stroll away meant Labour’s modification handed and MPs might solely vote on the altered movement – stopping the SNP’s authentic proposal even being voted on.

Instead of the aftermath being in regards to the significance of the UK parliament formally backing a right away ceasefire in Gaza for the primary time, the main target returned to the impression of Sir Lindsay’s earlier choices – with some Tory and SNP MPs leaving the chamber in protest.

The SNP’s Mr Flynn known as for the Speaker to come back to the Commons, asking deputy speaker Dame Rosie Winterton: “How do we bring him to this House now to explain to the Scottish National Party why our views and our votes in this House are irrelevant to him?”

And after some delaying ways by MPs, the Speaker appeared to supply his apologies to MPs on all sides.

As some MPs known as out “resign”, Sir Lindsay reiterated his earlier justifications for choosing the Labour modification, saying he had been making an attempt to make sure all choices had been on the desk for MPs to vote on – in addition to defending MPs’ security.

He added: “I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it’s ended up.

“I do take accountability for my actions.”

But while Mr Flynn accepted the intention of the apology, he said the result of the Speaker’s actions saw “an SNP opposition day flip right into a Labour Party opposition day”.

“I’m afraid that’s treating myself and my colleagues within the Scottish National Party with full and utter contempt,” he said.

“I’ll take vital convincing that your place will not be now insupportable.”

Speaking to Sky News after the drama had unfolded, Mr Flynn apologised to the general public, saying at the moment ought to have been about Palestinians in Gaza.

“But Westminster does this, doesn’t it?” he added. “It turns into a [debate] all about Westminster and what a circus this is.

“Because due to the actions of the Speaker of the House of Commons, the SNP has been stitched as much as the purpose that the Labour Party had been the one recreation on the town at the moment.”

He said there would be some “critical recriminations”, adding: “Today was about one thing a lot larger than Westminster, and but right here we’re debating Westminster is nonsense.”

Labour’s shadow defence secretary, John Healey, defended Sir Lindsay, telling Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge: “The Speaker is there to protect the rights of all MPs and he was trying to do the right thing.

“He was making an attempt to verify [there was] the widest potential debate as a result of he is aware of it issues in parliament, it issues in our communities and it issues past the shores of Britain.”

However, Mr Healey criticised other MPs, adding: “This was an opportunity once we might have proven one of the best of parliament in coming collectively to demand an finish to the preventing in Gaza.

“But instead we’ve revealed the worst of Westminster, with this descending into a row about procedure, with a boycott from the Conservatives, a walkout from the SNP, and frankly, this does nothing to help the Palestinians and it does nothing to advance the cause of peace.”