SNP and Conservative MPs walk out of the Commons over the speaker’s handling of the Gaza vote
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Prime minister Rishi Sunak has branded Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire vote “very concerning”, but said the Commons Speaker was “reflecting on what happened”.
Mr Sunak warned that parliamentarians should never be intimidated by “extremists” after almost 70 Conservative and SNP MPs signed a no-confidence motion in Sir Lindsay.
However, home secretary James Cleverly firmly backed Sir Lindsay as he said: “I think the Speaker has done a fantastic job. I think he’s been a breath of fresh air compared with his predecessor.
“He made a mistake. He’s apologised for the mistake.”
Sir Lindsay broke with convention on Wednesday to allow a vote on Labour’s Gaza ceasefire amendment to an SNP motion calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and Israel. The amendment was later passed without a vote.
He said: “I regret it. I apologise to the SNP... I apologise and I apologise to the House. I made a mistake. We do make mistakes. I own up to mine.
“I have a duty of care, and I say that, and if my mistake is looking after members I am guilty.”
Cleverly backs Commons Speaker
Home secretary James Cleverly has firmly backed Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle amid criticism of his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate.
The senior Cabinet minister told Sky News on Friday: “I think the Speaker has done a fantastic job. I think he’s been a breath of fresh air compared with his predecessor.
“He made a mistake. He’s apologised for the mistake.
“My view is that I’m supportive of him.”
Mr Cleverly said it was his personal view because the selection of the Speaker is “House business” rather than for Government ministers to decide.
‘A race to the bottom for politics’: British Muslim and Palestinian groups criticise Commons chaos
The controversy was sparked when Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke convention to allow MPs to vote on a Labour amendment to the SNP’s Gaza ceasefire motion, sparking anger which has resulted in more than 60 MPs voting a no-confidence motion against him.
As the uproar in Westminster continues, organisations pushing for an immediate ceasefire have accused parliament of losing sight of the war through political games, as Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry estimates more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict.
The threats to MPs that Sir Lindsay Hoyle fears
Two MPs have been murdered, some have faced death threats or racist abuse, offices have been firebombed and protesters demonstrated at an MP’s home. Constituency surgeries are vulnerable, too:
Analysis: Does Britain still have a credible nuclear deterrent?
The worst of all worlds is to have one that might not work, and for your enemies to know all about it, writes Sean O’Grady:
Analysis: Hoyle’s choice was disgraceful
Sir Lindsay Hoyle implied he had changed the rules to protect Labour MPs from the threat of violence if they failed to vote for a ceasefire. This was an appalling suggestion, writes John Rentoul:
Anger as Northern Ireland excluded from Post Office law
Northern Ireland’s justice minister says she is deeply disappointed that legislation to exonerate subpostmasters wronged in the Horizon scandal excludes the region.
Naomi Long said she would urgently review options to provide an alternative remedy for subpostmasters in Northern Ireland.
Details of blanket legislation to exonerate subpostmasters convicted in England and Wales was published on Thursday after Rishi Sunak earlier this year said they were victims of “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history”.
Last month, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake told MPs that while justice is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Government wanted to see a consistent approach across the UK.
However, Ms Long criticised the Westminster Government after it failed to include Northern Ireland in its legislation.
Victims of Post Office Horizon scandal to have names cleared by new law
Editorial: Now the war in Gaza is poisoning British politics
Some of the arguments about Gaza – in parliament, online, in demonstrations – twist the motives and policies of opponents grotesquely:
Now the war in Gaza is poisoning British politics
Editorial: A rancorous Commons debate about ending conflict in the region showed parliament’s adversarial procedures to be unsuited to easing such tensions. MPs would do well to remember the scale of the human suffering – and the importance of a permanent peace
Backers of no-confidence motion rise to 67
The number of supporters of the no-confidence motion in the speaker has risen to 67.
One, Conservative Philip Dunne, has withdrawn his name from it.
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2024-02-23 08:22:09Z
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