The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is facing mounting pressure after a debate on a ceasefire in Gaza turned chaotic. The Speaker’s decision to allow a vote on a Labour motion for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” deviated from the norm and sparked an uproar from both SNP and Conservative MPs. After the vote, Sir Lindsay apologised but still faced calls to resign. Thirty-three Tory and SNP MPs have signed a motion declaring they have no confidence in the Speaker.
The disagreement emerged in the Commons during the SNP opposition day, where the Scottish nationalists had tabled a motion calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. The Speaker allowed a Labour amendment to take priority, prompting fury from both parties. The Speaker later explained that he made the decision so that MPs could express their views on “the widest range of propositions.” Labour’s amendment was ultimately passed without a formal vote, meaning there was no vote on the SNP’s motion.
The government’s proposal for an “immediate humanitarian pause” did not go as far as the one put forward by Labour. While the initial motion tabled by the SNP called for an “immediate ceasefire” and an end to the “collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
Sir Keir Starmer avoided another potential rebellion over the party’s position on Gaza as Labour MPs were able to show their support for a ceasefire without voting for an SNP motion. The chaos in the House overshadowed the debate, which occurred as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square.
Several MPs have called for the Speaker to step down and 33 Tory and SNP MPs have declared no confidence in him by signing an early-day motion. However, very few early-day motions are debated, and many MPs said they would not take this step. Sir Lindsay was first elected as a Labour MP but relinquished his party affiliation after becoming Speaker.
The violence between Israel and Palestine has been ongoing since October, with Hamas’ attack on southern Israel as the trigger. More than 29,000 people in Gaza have been killed since then, according to the Palestinian territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are accepted by the United Nations. Earlier this week, Labour shifted its position to call for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” following months of pressure from backbenchers and activists
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