The Scottish National Party (SNP) has announced that it will be calling for another debate in the Commons on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. The announcement came after chaos ensued following the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s decision to allow MPs to vote on the Labour Party’s amendment to the SNP’s ceasefire motion, meaning that the SNP motion was not voted on.
The SNP has said that it will be applying for another debate on the issue next week, through a little-used emergency procedure in the Commons that allows for short-notice debates. The party wants to have an emergency debate on a motion outlining “concrete actions” the UK could take to promote a ceasefire at the United Nations. The aim is to put pressure on the UK government to take a stronger pro-ceasefire stance.
While Sir Lindsay has already indicated that he would allow a fresh debate under emergency rules, it is yet unknown if another debate would allow the SNP to force a vote that divides other parties on the issue. The SNP motion called for an “immediate ceasefire” while Labour demanded an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, and the government had also tabled its own amendment calling for an “immediate humanitarian pause”.
If the SNP tables a motion detailing specific demands on the government, it could put Sir Lindsay in an awkward position, akin to that of his predecessor, John Bercow, who was criticised for allowing MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit to take control of the Commons timetable in 2019.
The SNP will formally apply for the debate next Monday when the Commons returns, potentially leading to further scrutiny over Sir Lindsay’s handling of Commons procedure
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