Moment furious MPs storm out of Commons over Gaza amendments

       MPs from the SNP and Conservative parties have walked out of the Commons chamber in protest against the Speaker’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate.

       Sir Lindsay Hoyle drew comparisons with his predecessor, John Bercow, after tearing up the rule book to allow a vote on a Labour motion around Gaza and Israel.

       The SNP was allocated a day's debate on Gaza and Israel, with both the Government and Opposition submitting amendments. The precedent would dictate that the Government's amendment would be voted on instead of Labour’s, but the Speaker said both would be voted on.

       The Commons went into meltdown moments before the mass departure after Deputy Speaker Rosie Winterton took points of order from MPs for more than 40 minutes.

       Sir Lindsay later returned to the Commons and said he regretted what happened tonight and took responsibility.

       SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn accused him of treating his party with "complete and utter contempt", saying his position could be "intolerable".

       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

       Mr Flynn had asked on three occasions where Sir Lindsay was, as he called for the Speaker to return to the Commons.

       On the third occasion, Mr Flynn told the Commons: “I am afraid that I am going to have to try for a third time. Can you please advise me where the Speaker of the House of Commons is?

       “What mechanisms are available to bring him to the House? And as we wait for a deliberation to be made in that regard, I move that this House … that you use the powers that I trust you have to suspend this House.”

       Trending

       Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton replied: “I will not be suspending the House. We need to put these questions. Mr Speaker will be in his place tomorrow.”

       But Mr Flynn was followed by similar calls from Conservative MP Matthew Offord (Hendon), who asked: “Madame Deputy Speaker, where is the Speaker?”

       SNP foreign affairs spokesman Brendan O’Hara said: “The House and its procedures have descended into absolute chaos and they have descended into chaos simply because of a decision taken by the Speaker earlier today. Is it too much to ask that the Speaker is asked to come to this House and explain exactly why he took those decisions, the consequences of those decisions, and how he intends to get this House out of the mess that it currently finds itself in?”

       MPs rejected a vote to sit in private, which would have barred the public and journalists from proceedings.

       Erskine May, the guide to parliamentary procedure, says: “Sittings in private in peacetime are extremely unusual; the last two occasions on which the House sat in private were 18 November 1958 and 4 December 2001.”

       The House last sat in private in 2001 to debate the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill.

       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

       Fury as Labour MP calls for ceasefire but no mention of Hamas hostage release

       Speaker sparks Commons chaos after tearing up rule book over SNP Gaza debate

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Ring of steel placed around Parliament as pro-Palestine mob descends on Westminster today

       268 Comments

       Nigel Farage issues stark warning after chaos erupts in Commons over Gaza

       687 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant

       17 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle fights for political survival as 67 MPs call for him to go

       602 Comments

       Furious MPs plot to oust Lindsay Hoyle over Labour 'stitch-up' of crunch Gaza vote

       1577 Comments

       Sir Lindsay Hoyle clinging to job as dozens of MPs lose confidence in Speaker after chaos

       262 Comments

       The Gaza debate became a clown show - but here's why we shouldn't be laughing

       100 Comments

       Chaos erupts in Commons as Penny Mordaunt takes aim at speaker over Gaza vote

       130 Comments

       Keir Starmer referred to top parliamentary ethics watchdog by MP over Speaker-gate

       1123 Comments

       MPs' righteous fury will change nothing in Gaza and Israel

       195 Comments

       Keir Starmer faces prospect of new Labour rebellion as SNP pushes for fresh Gaza vote

       112 Comments

       Sir Keir Starmer braced for further Labour resignations over SNP Gaza vote

       201 Comments

       We cannot allow thugs to bully MPs and derail our democracy - Eliot Wilson

       47 Comments

       SNP chief boasts his party has given Labour a 'backbone' after Gaza U-turn

       120 Comments

       Speaker sparks furious Commons chaos after tearing up rule book over SNP Gaza debate

       859 Comments

       Keir Starmer urged to come clean on what he told Speaker Lindsay Hoyle as pressure mounts

       1159 Comments

       Who should be the next speaker of the House of Commons?

       17 Comments

       Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues grovelling apology amid MP shouts to 'resign'

       128 Comments

       Palestine protest: Jaw-dropping moment 'from the river to the sea' projected onto Big Ben

       2498 Comments

       Should Speaker Lindsay Hoyle resign after Commons chaos over Gaza? Vote here

       660 Comments

       Ring of steel placed around Parliament as pro-Palestine mob descends on Westminster today

       268 Comments

       Nigel Farage issues stark warning after chaos erupts in Commons over Gaza

       687 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant

       17 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle fights for political survival as 67 MPs call for him to go

       602 Comments

       Furious MPs plot to oust Lindsay Hoyle over Labour 'stitch-up' of crunch Gaza vote

       1577 Comments

       Sir Lindsay Hoyle clinging to job as dozens of MPs lose confidence in Speaker after chaos

       262 Comments

       The Gaza debate became a clown show - but here's why we shouldn't be laughing

       100 Comments

       Chaos erupts in Commons as Penny Mordaunt takes aim at speaker over Gaza vote

       130 Comments

       Keir Starmer referred to top parliamentary ethics watchdog by MP over Speaker-gate

       1123 Comments

       MPs' righteous fury will change nothing in Gaza and Israel

       195 Comments

       Keir Starmer faces prospect of new Labour rebellion as SNP pushes for fresh Gaza vote

       112 Comments

       Sir Keir Starmer braced for further Labour resignations over SNP Gaza vote

       201 Comments

       We cannot allow thugs to bully MPs and derail our democracy - Eliot Wilson

       47 Comments

       SNP chief boasts his party has given Labour a 'backbone' after Gaza U-turn

       120 Comments

       Speaker sparks furious Commons chaos after tearing up rule book over SNP Gaza debate

       859 Comments

       Keir Starmer urged to come clean on what he told Speaker Lindsay Hoyle as pressure mounts

       1159 Comments

       Who should be the next speaker of the House of Commons?

       17 Comments

       Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle issues grovelling apology amid MP shouts to 'resign'

       128 Comments

       Palestine protest: Jaw-dropping moment 'from the river to the sea' projected onto Big Ben

       2498 Comments

       Should Speaker Lindsay Hoyle resign after Commons chaos over Gaza? Vote here

       660 Comments

       Ring of steel placed around Parliament as pro-Palestine mob descends on Westminster today

       268 Comments

       Nigel Farage issues stark warning after chaos erupts in Commons over Gaza

       687 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant

       17 Comments

       Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle fights for political survival as 67 MPs call for him to go

       602 Comments

       Furious MPs plot to oust Lindsay Hoyle over Labour 'stitch-up' of crunch Gaza vote

       1577 Comments

       Sir Lindsay Hoyle clinging to job as dozens of MPs lose confidence in Speaker after chaos

       262 Comments

       The Gaza debate became a clown show - but here's why we shouldn't be laughing

       100 Comments

       It had been expected that Sir Lindsay would select just the Government’s amendment seeking an “immediate humanitarian pause” to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which could pave the way for a more permanent stop in fighting.

       But instead, he decided that the Commons would first vote on Labour’s calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” before moving on to further votes on the SNP’s original motion, and then the Government’s proposals if either of the first two were to fail to garner enough support.

       Labour’s amendment pushing for an immediate Gaza ceasefire was approved by the Commons.

       Related articles Pro-Palestine protesters head for Westminster rally in advance of crunch debate Speaker sparks Commons chaos after tearing up rule book over SNP Gaza debate Labour told to drop ‘Get Kemi’ operation after PMQs hounding Lindsay Hoyle destroyed his reputation as a straight dealer in an instant Penny Mordaunt takes aim at Speaker over Gaza vote as chaos erupts in CommonsPen