THE UK PARLIAMENT erupted into chaos yesterday over a decision by the Speaker to change the usual order of events while voting on a motion about a Gaza ceasefire.
House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has been criticised by MPs for his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate, which was tabled by the Scottish National Party on one of a small number of days where, as the second-largest opposition party, it is given the power to lead debates.
The Speaker is facing calls to resign over how he conducted the sitting.
The SNP used one of its ‘Opposition Day’ debates to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and “an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”.
Typically, in the House of Commons, if the government tables an amendment to an Opposition Day debate motion, the original motion will be put to a vote first. If it is rejected, then the government’s amended version will be voted on.
MPs expected that the SNP motion and the government’s amendment would both be debated and voted on yesterday.
However, Hoyle, as Speaker, also selected a Labour amendment as well as the government’s amendment, saying he wanted MPs to consider the “widest possible range of options”.
Labour’s amendment would be voted on before the SNP’s and sought to change the original motion, making the SNP feel its opportunity to have its motion debated and voted on was being denied.
The Labour Party’s amendment sought to change the motion to call for an immediate ceasefire, emphasising that that would involve both sides agreeing to lay down their arms and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas, and calling for a diplomatic process for achieving a two-state solution and lasting peace.
Opposition Day debate motions are non-binding on the UK government but act as a as a signal of the feelings within the House of Commons on a matter.
When Hoyle announced his unusual decision at the start of the session, he was met with immediate uproar, with shouts calling for him to resign and “shame” coming from the SNP and the Conservatives.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt (Conservative) accused Hoyle of having “hijacked” the debate and said it had become a “political row within the Labour Party”.
“Regrettably, Mr Speaker has inserted himself into that row with today’s decision and undermined the confidence of this House in being able to rely on its long-established standing orders to govern its debates.”
She said the government would take no part in votes linked to the motion.
"The government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on proceedings," Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt tells the Commons after criticising Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's role selecting amendments
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) February 21, 2024
Follow Gaza ceasefire vote live https://t.co/njQaRnrqgy pic.twitter.com/qKfyWvkVkj
A debate on the issue was overshadowed by heated exchanges of points of orders, including a request for ministers to sign a no-confidence motion in the Speaker, as well a vote on whether the House should sit in private that was defeated.
Labour’s amendment was deemed approved by the Commons without a formal vote being called when the Deputy Speaker ruled that it had been approved based on the shouts of MPs.
Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg later challenged the ruling and said: “It is absolutely extraordinary that that noise level was deemed to be ‘aye’.”
Some MPs were frustrated a formal vote did not take place as many had wanted to officially record their decision and show constituents they supported a ceasefire.
After the Labour amendment was approved, Hoyle apologised to the Commons – and was met by shouts of “resign” from some MPs.
“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,” Hoyle said.
“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,” he said.
"I regret how it's ended up... it was never my intention for it to end up like this"
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) February 21, 2024
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle says he "tried to do what he thought was the right thing for all sides of this House" as he apologises for his decision
Follow live https://t.co/njQaRnrqgy pic.twitter.com/0OympHhTrr
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said it would take significant convincing for him to believe that the Speaker’s position was “not now intolerable” and said his party had been treated with “complete and utter contempt”.
Flynn called for an investigation and indicated he believed Labour leader Keir Starmer and Labour’s chief whip had put pressure on Hoyle over the amendment.
"The SNP has been stitched up".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 21, 2024
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says there will be "serious ramifications" for the Speaker today following his handling of the Gaza ceasefire vote.https://t.co/xItZsH7tea
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/Sev0uzdEQF
Labour frontbencher John Healey claimed to BBC Newsnight that it was “totally untrue that he was put under pressure”.
Additional reporting by Press Association
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