Lindsay Hoyle sparks Commons uproar
Sir Lindsay Hoyle is clinging on to his job as more than 60 MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in him.
The Commons Speaker sparked fury yesterday when he upended parliamentary convention by selecting Labour's bid to amend an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Sir Lindsay issued an apology after a day of acrimony that saw MPs pass Labour's amendment to the opposition day motion as Conservative and SNP politicians walked out of the debate in protest.
He was in the Speaker's Chair, as usual, today and it is understood he is not planning to resign despite some 64 MPs signing a motion of no confidence in him.
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KEY EVENTS Sunak criticises Hoyle's handling of Gaza vote as 'concerning' 16:28 Keir Starmer dodges crucial question after Commons row13:32 SNP Chief demands vote of confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle12:47 Sir Lindsay Hoyle repeats apology to SNP12:31 58 MPs have now signed Will Wragg's Early Day Motion 11:48 Full list of MPs calling on the Speaker to go10:47
yesterday16:28 Katie Harris
Sunak criticises Hoyle's handling of Gaza vote as 'concerning'
Rishi Sunak said the way in which Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had changed the "usual ways in which Parliament works" was "very concerning" and said parliamentarians should never be intimidated by "extremists".
Speaking during a visit to North Wales, the Prime Minister said: "What happened in the House of Commons last night is very concerning.
"It seems that the usual processes and the way that the House of Commons works were changed. Now my understanding is that the Speaker has apologised for that and is going to reflect on what happened."
Mr Sunak continued: "But I think the important point here is that we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which Parliament works.
"Parliament is an important place for us to have these debates. And just because some people may want to stifle that with intimidation or aggressive behaviour, we should not bend to that and change how Parliament works. That's a very slippery slope."
yesterday14:20 Christian Calgie
SNP Chief is 60th MP to vote no confidence in Hoyle
The SNP's Westminster chief has signed Will Wragg's EDM of no confidence in the Speaker, after telling the Commons he can no longer trust Sir Lindsay in the role.
His signature ticks the total up to 60.
yesterday14:14 Katie Harris
Yousaf says Hoyle's position looks 'untenable'
Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf said: "As Stephen (Flynn) my colleague has said, he has serious questions to answer.
"His position looks to me to be untenable.
"What we saw was frankly disgraceful, chaotic scenes in the House of Commons.
"And I think the true tragedy of that is that it takes away from what is the most important issue and that is the fact that we have an absolute humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded and is deepening in Gaza."
yesterday14:01 Sam Stevenson
'Yesterday was a dark day for our democracy': Robert Jenrick speaks out over Gaza vote chaos
Former minister Robert Jenrick has spoken out about the chaos in the Commons last night.
He said: "The real issue of the events of the last 24 hours is not the party political shenanigans.
"The real issue is that this House feels cowed by threats of violence and intimidation."
Yesterday was a dark day for our democracy.
It\u2019s part of a pattern of Islamist extremists intimidating those they disagree with, backed by the prospect of violence.
We must call it what it is and have the confidence in our liberal values to push back robustly. pic.twitter.com/zOpJgLO58d
\u2014 Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) February 22, 2024
yesterday13:32 Sam Stevenson
Keir Starmer dodges crucial question after Commons row
Sir Keir Starmer has denied threatening the House of Commons Speaker after he successfully lobbied Sir Lindsay Hoyle to tear up convention yesterday.
Speaking to broadcasters this lunchtime, the Labour leader said “of course” he had discussions with Sir Lindsay.
He said: "I drafted a Labour amendment, which not only dealt with how we stop the fighting now and get aid in but also about what the long-term plan is to make sure we get to a peaceful outcome.
"I wanted that amendment put before parliament because I wanted to make sure it was a good debate and that we had the widest possible options.
"Of course, there were discussions with the Speaker, but all party leaders speak to the Speaker.
"There was absolutely no threat to the Speaker in the course of that. What we wanted to do was make sure Parliament had the broadest possible debate on an issue that is very very important."
Keir Starmer denies threatening to withdraw support for Hoyle
yesterday12:47 Christian Calgie
SNP Chief demands vote of confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle
The SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said his party does not have confidence in the Commons Speaker and has demanded a vote.
He has said the SNP do not "believe that you can continue in your role as speaker".
"We do not have confidence in your ability to do so.
"So I would therefore welcome clarity from yourself or indeed the leader of the house on how we can best facilitate a vote in this chamber at the earliest possible occasion to that effect".
yesterday12:31 Christian Calgie
Sir Lindsay Hoyle repeats apology to SNP
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has reiterated his "regret" over his actions yesterday, and said MPs can hold an emergency debate if they wish on Gaza again.
"If my mistake is looking after members, I am guilty"
He is now offering an emergency debate to the SNP - so called SO24 debate - in light of their anger.
yesterday12:20 Christian Calgie
Will Wragg demands debate on confidence in Sir Lindsay
Will Wragg, who sparked the no confidence EDM in the Speaker, has demanded a full debate and vote in the Commons.
Speaking in the Chamber this morning, Mr Wragg said he'd laid the motion "with regret".
He asked Penny Mordaunt to confirm the process by which the motion can be brought "as a substantive motion to the floor of the house to be debated and voted on".
Ms Mordaunt demurred from the demand, merely saying the Government will listen to the views of the House and speaker must command confidence.
She added: "Of course the Government will listen to requests for any debates in Government time and members will note the other routes to secure a debate"
Will Wragg speaks after launching his putsch against the Speaker (Image: Parliament Live)
yesterday12:13 Katie Harris
Penny Mordaunt rips into Starmer in Commons attack
Penny Mordaunt ripped into Sir Keir Starmer in a furious Commons attack after yesterday's drama over the Gaza ceasefire vote.
The Commons leader said he is "not fit" to lead Britain and blamed Labour for the chaotic scenes.
Speaking in the Commons this morning, she said: "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."
Penny Mordaunt ripped into Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons (Image: PARLIAMENT TV)
yesterday12:09 Christian Calgie
Danny Kruger explains reason behind vote of no confidence in Sir Lindsay
Tory MP Danny Kruger has said he is backing a VONC in Sir Lindsay because he allowed Labour "to use the Islamist threat to change the way our democracy works".
He added that Sir Lindsay and Sir Keir Starmer showed "weakness" yesterday.
"Starmer is even more culpable. He should be standing for democracy and against mob rule. Instead he used the threat of violence for party political ends, to wriggle out of a crisis created by Labour's unbridgeable division over Israel."
yesterday11:58 Sam Stevenson
Sadiq Khan fact-checked on X after hitting out at Rishi Sunak over Gaza
Taking to X, London Mayor Sadiq Khan claimed the Prime Minister said that calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is "not in anyone's interest" during yesterday's Commons debate which descended into chaos.
But a humiliating fact-check note was added to the post clarifying: "Rishi Sunak actually said: 'He talks about the UN resolution but just calling for an immediate ceasefire now which collapses back into fighting within days or weeks is not in anyone’s interest. We must work towards a permanent ceasefire…'"
Rishi Sunak just said in Parliament that calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is "not in anyone's interest".
Try telling that to the families of the 29,000 Palestinians who have been killed so far and the millions suffering.
I continue to call for an immediate ceasefire.
\u2014 Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 21, 2024
yesterday11:48 Sam Stevenson
58 MPs have now signed Will Wragg's Early Day Motion
The total number of MPs now calling for Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to quit has hit 58.
yesterday11:38 Sam Stevenson
'Is it any surprise that he let them off the hook?' Nigel Farage questions Speaker's impartiality
Taking to X, Brexiteer Nigel Farage has questioned if the Speaker's previous allegiances to the Labour Party played a part in his decision to rip up the House of Commons rulebook on Wednesday.
He said: "Let’s not forget that he was, of course, a Labour MP."
In all the furore and debate around the actions of Sir Lindsay Hoyle, let\u2019s not forget that he was, of course, a Labour MP. Is it any surprise that he let them off the hook today?
\u2014 Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) February 21, 2024
yesterday11:34 Sam Stevenson
Nigel Farage issues stark warning after chaos erupts in Commons over Gaza
Nigel Farage warned religious sectarianism is now "dominating" British politics following chaotic scenes in the House of Commons yesterday over a Gaza debate.
Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage said: "That is what is now dominating British politics. It is, of course, a direct result of the increasing sectarianism in British politics and in particular within the Labour Party."
Nigel Farage discusses Gaza debate in UK politics
yesterday11:19 Sam Stevenson
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey weighs in on the debate
Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary has spoken out on the chaos in the House of Commons.
John Healey told BBC Newsnight: "This is dreadful. People were looking for a debate that could give them hope that in the long run, there could be peace and in the immediate term there could be a ceasefire.
"This was the chance to show the British Parliament at its best. We've shown Westminster today at its worst."
"This was the chance to show the British Parliament at its best. We've shown Westminster today at its worst."
Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey calls House of Commons dispute over Gaza vote "dreadful" #Newsnight #GazaCeasefire pic.twitter.com/6VZxaYjzTo
\u2014 BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) February 21, 2024
yesterday11:06 Sam Stevenson
SNP MP issues new list of demands
Senior SNP MP Pete Wishart has issued a six-point list of demands for the Speaker.
They include full disclosure of records of meetings between the Speaker and party leaders and whips in advance of the debate and for the SNP to be given its opposition day back in full in the next couple of weeks
What I think we need to see now. 1 All records of meetings between the Speaker and party leaders and whips in advance of the debate. 2. A minute of what was discussed and agreed. 3 The assessment of the security risks of \u2018all\u2019 members over the selection of motions.
\u2014 Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) February 22, 2024
yesterday11:02 Katie Harris
Poll: Should Lindsay Hoyle resign?
Readers can vote in our online poll here on whether the under-pressure Speaker of the House of Commons should step down.
yesterday10:51 Christian Calgie
Ben Wallace comes to defence of Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said he stands by the Speaker.
"I have served under three speakers. Lindsay Hoyle is head and shoulders above the rest. He is fair, kind and a protector of back benchers. He is not a bully nor a grandstander nor pompous. He has my full support."
However he slams Sir Keir Starmer's manoeuvring yesterday, demanding to know why he thought the rules shouldn't apply to him.
"The real question we should ask ourselves is why Keir Starmer, the lawyer, seems to think Commons rules should not be followed. Is it one rule for Starmer and one for the rest of us?"
yesterday10:49 Christian Calgie
Ex-Attorney General accuses Hoyle of 'abject surrender to tyranny'
Former Attorney General Sir Geoffrey Cox has torn into Sir Lindsay Hoyle's decision-making yesterday, accusing him of "abject surrender to tyranny".
In a statement, the popular Commons performer and legal expert said Sir Lindsay made his rule-breaking decision yesterday for one of two reasons: either to help his friends in the Labour Party, or because of external threats to MPs.
Sir Geoffrey fumed: "If the former, it is an abuse of his office. If the latter, it is an abject surrender to intolerance and tyranny; it meekly offers up the House of Commons as able to be influenced by external threats."
There are two possible explanations for the Speaker\u2019s decision to abandon long-standing convention. First, he did it to assist his former party leader get out of a bind. Secondly, as he says, he did it in a misguided attempt to protect certain Labour MPs from the intimidation\u2026
— Geoffrey Cox KC MP (@Geoffrey_Cox) February 22, 2024
yesterday10:47 Christian Calgie
Full list of MPs calling on the Speaker to go
With the number surging this morning from 33 to 55 in the space of a few hours, the Express has published the full list of all MPs demanding Sir Lindsay go.
It reflects the partisan nature of the row, with only Tories and the SNP supporting it so far, and Labour maintaining support.
32 Tories are backing the EDM, to 22 SNP.
In 2009, 22 MPs backed a VONC EDM in then-Speaker Michael Martin, who quit two days later.
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yesterday10:46 Katie Harris
Business as usual for Hoyle in Commons
Sir Lindsay Hoyle was in the Speaker’s chair as proceedings kicked off in the Commons this morning.
He did not reference last night's chaos as the session got underway just after 9.30am.
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