Penny Mordaunt claims Starmer 'not fit' to lead UK
Penny Mordaunt insisted Sir Keir Starmer is "not fit" to lead Britain in an impassioned Commons attack after a dramatic day over a Gaza ceasefire vote.
The Commons Leader blamed "party politics on behalf of the Labour Party" for the chaotic scenes.
Speaking in the Commons, said of the Labour leader: "He puts the interests of the Labour Party before the interests of the British people.
"It's the Labour leader that doesn't get Britain and the past week has shown that he is not fit to lead it."
Ms Mordaunt defended Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle who has been left fighting for his job as she accused Sir Keir of being "happy to do what he knows to be wrong".
LIVE UPDATES: Speaker fights for political survival as almost 60 MPs call for him to go
Penny Mordaunt said Sir Keir Starmer is 'not fit' to lead Britain (Image: PARLIAMENT TV)
Trending
Stay up-to-date with the latest Politics news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
She said: "We have seen into the heart of Labour's leadership. Nothing is more important than the interests of the Labour Party.
"The Labour Party before principle, the Labour Party before individual rights, the Labour Party before the reputation and honour of the decent man that sits in Speaker's chair.
"The Labour Party before fairness, integrity and democracy.
"In Rochdale, the Labour Party before a zero tolerance policy towards antisemitism.
"Many of us knew this about the Labour leader. I saw it in his frustration of our country getting the best deal possible when we left the EU. The Labour Party before country."
She said the public "cannot abide bullies and cheats", adding: "They cannot abide people who trash our nation or fail to defend its interests or the institutions that protect them."
The Commons Leader said: "We often on this side of this House rightly criticise the former leader of the Labour Party (Jeremy Corbyn) for the things he stood for being wrong on those matters.
"But I will tell you one thing about the former leader of the Labour Party, at least he thought he was right on those matters. The current leader of the Labour Party is quite happy to do what he knows to be wrong."
POLL: Should Speaker Lindsay Hoyle resign after Commons chaos over Gaza? Vote here
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
Sir Lindsay sparked uproar on Wednesday when he upended parliamentary convention by selecting Labour's bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire.
He decided the Commons would first vote on Labour's amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP's original motion, and then a Government proposal seeking an "immediate humanitarian pause".
The Speaker disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues grovelling apology amid MP shouts to 'resign'
128 Comments
Conservatives face 'extinction' unless they change course, warns top Tory
206 Comments
Keir Starmer in brutal clash with BBC's Naga Munchetty over by-election scandal
206 Comments
Chaos erupts in Commons as Penny Mordaunt takes aim at speaker over Gaza vote
130 Comments
Our latest poll suggests Tory plots against Rishi Sunak are doomed
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt backed by Tory voters over Rishi Sunak for general election win in new poll
392 Comments
As hard as it is to believe Rishi Sunak will survive and could win the general election
169 Comments
Suella Braverman warns that ‘Islamists and anti-Semites are now in charge' of Britain
850 Comments
Lindsay Hoyle and SNP leader standoff in the Wild West saloon of Westminster
37 Comments
‘Tory MPs hunting for jobs because they sense humiliating defeat is inevitable' - pollster
109 Comments
The Gaza chaos has exposed Keir Starmer's utter hopelessness
13 Comments
Stark warning for Labour that Reform UK could wreck Starmer's dream of a majority
2223 Comments
Rochdale fiasco shows Keir Starmer is failing to change Labour, warns Nigel Farage
219 Comments
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant
17 Comments
Keir Starmer referred to top parliamentary ethics watchdog by MP over Speaker-gate
1124 Comments
‘I absolutely didn't threaten him': Keir Starmer dodges crucial question after Commons row
438 Comments
Double by-election blow reveals Rishi Sunak's biggest enemy - and it is not Labour
2 Comments
Liz Truss backed Sir Lindsay Hoyle to stay as Speaker and warns MPs are in danger
58 Comments
MPs' righteous fury will change nothing in Gaza and Israel
195 Comments
Boris Johnson's comeback boosted as he tops poll of Tories to take on Keir Starmer
1186 Comments
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues grovelling apology amid MP shouts to 'resign'
128 Comments
Conservatives face 'extinction' unless they change course, warns top Tory
206 Comments
Keir Starmer in brutal clash with BBC's Naga Munchetty over by-election scandal
206 Comments
Chaos erupts in Commons as Penny Mordaunt takes aim at speaker over Gaza vote
130 Comments
Our latest poll suggests Tory plots against Rishi Sunak are doomed
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt backed by Tory voters over Rishi Sunak for general election win in new poll
392 Comments
As hard as it is to believe Rishi Sunak will survive and could win the general election
169 Comments
Suella Braverman warns that ‘Islamists and anti-Semites are now in charge' of Britain
850 Comments
Lindsay Hoyle and SNP leader standoff in the Wild West saloon of Westminster
37 Comments
‘Tory MPs hunting for jobs because they sense humiliating defeat is inevitable' - pollster
109 Comments
The Gaza chaos has exposed Keir Starmer's utter hopelessness
13 Comments
Stark warning for Labour that Reform UK could wreck Starmer's dream of a majority
2223 Comments
Rochdale fiasco shows Keir Starmer is failing to change Labour, warns Nigel Farage
219 Comments
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant
17 Comments
Keir Starmer referred to top parliamentary ethics watchdog by MP over Speaker-gate
1124 Comments
‘I absolutely didn't threaten him': Keir Starmer dodges crucial question after Commons row
438 Comments
Double by-election blow reveals Rishi Sunak's biggest enemy - and it is not Labour
2 Comments
Liz Truss backed Sir Lindsay Hoyle to stay as Speaker and warns MPs are in danger
58 Comments
MPs' righteous fury will change nothing in Gaza and Israel
195 Comments
Boris Johnson's comeback boosted as he tops poll of Tories to take on Keir Starmer
1186 Comments
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues grovelling apology amid MP shouts to 'resign'
128 Comments
Conservatives face 'extinction' unless they change course, warns top Tory
206 Comments
Keir Starmer in brutal clash with BBC's Naga Munchetty over by-election scandal
206 Comments
Chaos erupts in Commons as Penny Mordaunt takes aim at speaker over Gaza vote
130 Comments
Our latest poll suggests Tory plots against Rishi Sunak are doomed
12 Comments
Penny Mordaunt backed by Tory voters over Rishi Sunak for general election win in new poll
392 Comments
As hard as it is to believe Rishi Sunak will survive and could win the general election
169 Comments
Tory and SNP MPs accused him of helping Sir Keir avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue.
Sir Lindsay apologised for his handing of the debate, which saw Labour's amendment pass as Conservative and SNP politicians walked out of the debate in protest.
More than 50 MPs have signed a parliamentary motion declaring no confidence in the Speaker.
Related articles Nigel Farage issues stark warning after chaos erupts in Commons over Gaza Vote here on whether you think Hoyle should resign after Commons chaos over Gaza Lindsay Hoyle fights for political survival as 58 MPs call for him to go