MPs and charities have criticised the ‘utter paralysis’ and ‘chaos’ in the House of Commons as the UK government voted to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The vote, which didn’t see individual MP’s votes recorded, came after a day of political wrangling between Labour and the SNP.
Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was forced to return and apologise for selecting amendments by both Labour and the Conservatives to the SNP’s ceasefire motion – which has never been done before.
Sir Lindsay said he wanted MPs to have the ‘widest possible range’ of options on what he said was ‘a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high’.
The commotion in Parliament drew widespread criticism, with Palestinian ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot telling LBC: ‘It’s very disgraceful. Today we have seen British politics at its worst.’
Halima Begum, chief executive of the ActionAid UK charity, said: ‘We are extremely disappointed to see the utter paralysis in Parliament this evening. Democracy is a precious commodity and should be treated as such.
‘A great disservice has been done to the British people, who expected their political parties and elected representatives to conduct a meaningful debate concerning an issue on which depends the lives of over a hundred Israeli hostages, and hundreds of thousands of Gazans suffering one of the most acute humanitarian crises we have seen in recent times.’
But what does this all mean, and why is the Speaker now facing calls to resign? Metro.co.uk has the answers.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt claimed Sir Lindsay had ‘hijacked’ the debate and ‘undermined the confidence’ of the House in its long-standing rules by selecting Labour’s bid to amend the SNP motion calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in the Israel-Hamas war.
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.
Sir Lindsay, who was first elected as a Labour MP but followed tradition following his election as Speaker by relinquishing his party affiliation, was accused of upending long-standing parliamentary conventions under which rival opposition amendments to an Opposition Day debate are not usually chosen alongside Government amendments.
SNP MPs and some Conservatives walked out of the chamber in protest at Speaker Sir Lindsay’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate.
The decision ultimately meant the SNP were unable to vote on their own proposition.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he would take significant convincing that the Speaker’s position was ‘not now intolerable’ and claimed his party had been treated with ‘complete and utter contempt’.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Flynn said: ‘Mr Speaker, whilst I acknowledge your apology, the reality is that you were warned by the clerks of the House that your decision could lead to the SNP not having a vote on our very own Opposition Day.
‘As a result, we have seen the SNP Opposition Day turn into a Labour Party Opposition Day.
‘I am afraid that that is treating myself and my colleagues in the Scottish National Party with complete and utter contempt. I will take significant convincing that your position is not now intolerable.’
Sir Lindsay has apologised for his actions and said he will speak with ‘the key players’ of all parties to decide what will happen going forward.
He said his decision was taken with ‘the right intentions’, to allow MPs ‘the widest range of propositions on which to express a view’.
Appearing near tears in the Commons, he explained: ‘I wanted to do the best, and it was my wish… to do the best by every member of this House.
‘The danger is… that that’s why I wanted everybody to express… because I am very, very concerned about the security of all members… I was very concerned, I am still concerned, and that’s why the meetings I have had today is about the security of members, their families and the people that are involved.
‘And I’ve got to say, I regret how it’s ended up. It was not my intention. I wanted all to ensure they could express their views and all sides of the House could vote.
‘As it was, in particular the SNP were ultimately unable to vote on their proposition.
‘I am, and I regret… with my sadness, that it’s ended up… in this position. That was never my intention for it to end like this.
‘I was absolutely convinced that the decision was done with the right intentions. I recognise the strength of feeling of members on this issue.’
Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton fielded multiple questions in Sir Lindsay’s absence, before he returned to the Commons.
She was forced to deny reports that Sir Lindsay’s decision to include the Labour amendment was due to pressure from the Labour Party.
She also refused to suspend the house while MPs clamoured for Sir Lindsay to return to the Commons.
Dame Rosie is the Labour MP for Doncaster Central and has served as an MP since 1997.
She served under Tony Blair as a minister in the Department for Health, then under Gordon Brown as the Minister of State for Transport in 2007-8, Minister for Work and Pensions in 2008-9, and Minister for Local Government in 2009-10.
Sir Lindsay will likely be considering his position tonight, as he has lost the support of the SNP, the third-largest political party.
Mr Flynn called for an investigation, as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour chief whip Alan Campbell exerted pressure on the Speaker ahead of his decision to pick Labour’s amendment.
But Labour still seems to back the Speaker, with frontbencher John Healey saying: ‘The Speaker was trying to ensure the widest possible debate on something that matters to parliament, it matters to our communities, it matters around the world.
‘He was doing the right thing.’
It’s clear Sir Lindsay regrets his actions, having apologised to the House – but it’s not yet clear whether this will save his political career.
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