The Speaker of the House of Commons is under pressure over his handling of a debate on Gaza, which resulted in MPs passing Labour’s amendment calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” amid scenes of chaos.
The motion was approved but only after Sir Lindsay Hoyle upended parliamentary convention by selecting Labour’s bid to amend an SNP motion on the Israel-Hamas war.
During a heated debate last night, the DUP’s North Antrim MP Ian Paisley said the SNP motion is a “denial” of the Hamas attack on Israel.
Mr Paisley said: “We are being asked to vote for a motion that does not contain any word about the rape of the women, the murder of the children, the unjustifiable attack. It’s as if it didn’t happen, it’s as if it was invisible, it’s as if, like other people in the 20th century, it denied things that happened to Israel and the Jewish people.
“That’s essentially what we’re seeing tonight, the denial of an attack on Israel.”
SNP MP Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) said the whole House condemns the “despicable behaviour of Hamas” and said they all call for the release of the hostages, but said Mr Paisley was “conflating things that should never be conflated”, with other SNP MPs calling out “shame”.
Mr Paisley said: “I am sorry that (the SNP’s motion)... does not contain a single word about October 7, it is a denial and it is invisible because it is as if it didn’t happen.”
There was a commotion on the SNP benches as Mr Paisley finished his remarks, with SNP MP Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) telling the Commons: “I’ve just been called antisemite by the honourable member from the North of Ireland and I think it’s an absolute disgrace that that is where he is bringing this debate to today.”
Sir Lindsay’s decision to select Labour’s bid to amend the SNP motion sparked fury from the Conservative and SNP benches, who accused him of helping Sir Keir Starmer avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue.
Sir Lindsay issued an apology after a day of acrimony but continues to face calls to resign.
More than 30 MPs have signed a parliamentary motion tabled by a Tory MP declaring no confidence in the Speaker.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt launched a bitter attack on Sir Lindsay, claiming he had “hijacked” the debate and “undermined the confidence” of the House in its long-standing rules.
They could come face to face again on Thursday when she delivers a business statement in the Commons.
The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour’s amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP’s original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an “immediate humanitarian pause”.
He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move, which provoked uproar in the chamber.
Labour’s amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation.
It marked the first time the Commons formally backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, though the Government does not have to adopt the position as the vote is not binding.
The SNP were ultimately unable to vote on their proposition calling for “an immediate ceasefire”, which was meant to be the focus of their Opposition Day.
Today should have been about a ceasefire in Gaza.
It’s why the SNP brought forward our motion.
Westminster blocked our chance at a straight vote due to the actions of the Speaker and Labour Party.
We will continue to speak up for those suffering as a result of this conflict.
— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) February 21, 2024
SNP MPs and some Conservatives walked out of the debate in protest at the Speaker’s handling of the matter in extraordinary scenes.
After calls for him to return to the chamber to explain his move, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures.
Amid shouts of “resign”, he said: “I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it’s ended up.”
He said he took the decision to allow all sides to “express their views” and that he was “very, very concerned about the security” of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict.
But 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”.
He also called for an investigation as he appeared to suggest Sir Keir and Labour’s chief whip had exerted pressure on Sir Lindsay, a former Labour MP, ahead of his decision to pick the party’s amendment for debate.
Had the Speaker not chosen it, Labour MPs in favour of a ceasefire could have been pushed to back the SNP motion, in a repeat of a major rebellion against the Labour leadership in November.
However, Labour frontbencher John Healey told BBC Newsnight it was “totally untrue that he (the Speaker) was put under pressure”.