SNP and Conservative MPs walk out of the Commons over the speaker’s handling of the Gaza vote
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 dozens of Conservative and SNP MPs signed a no-confidence motion in Sir Lindsay.
The speaker has apologised to the SNP after the House of Commons descended into chaos.
He 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 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.”
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt blamed the Labour Party for the chaotic scenes.
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.
Watch: Liz Truss appears to claim pro-Palestine marches ‘protesting in favour of terrorism’
‘Growing number of Tory MPs back immediate ceasefire’
A former Cabinet minister has said a growing number of Conservative MPs are coming round to supporting calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Kit Malthouse, who has previously backed a ceasefire, told the BBC’s PM programme how many Conservatives now supported his view.
He said: “I think a growing number, and certainly although there was no kind of organised whipping of people of my view, definitely we had people coming forward who were asking what I was going to do and how they should vote and what they were thinking about doing.
“So I think there is definitely growing concern.”
He added that he would favour a rerun of the debate to allow MPs to record a vote on proposals for a ceasefire.
Full report: Starmer forced to deny threatening speaker as Sunak piles on pressure
Watchdog investigates Tory MP accused of misusing taxpayers’ money
A watchdog investigation has been launched after minister Paul Maynard allegedly used his constituency office as a Tory campaign headquarters.
Top Tory defends speaker, citing his obsession with MPs’ safety
A senior Tory MP has said Sir Lindsay Hoyle is obsessed with the safety of MPs and it is almost certain that was the reason behind his decision on Wednesday to defy protocol.
Charles Walker said the decision was a mistake, but told Radio 4’s World At One: “I don’t think there was any malice behind it.
“I sit with him on the House of Commons Commission and I can testify to the fact that he is obsessed with the safety of Members of Parliament and their staff and all those that work on the precinct of the Palace of Westminster.
“And I am almost certain that is what motivated the decision yesterday – to make sure everybody in the House of Commons had a chance to vote for something that they could vote for.”
Charles Walker
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Charles Walker
Event: Ask John Rentoul anything as chaos over handling of Gaza vote
Why are the SNP and Tories so outraged? Why are MPs calling for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to resign? What was the protocol he breached?
The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul will answer all your questions following calls for Sir Lindsay to stand down. How to submit a question and join the live event:
