Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, caused controversy among Conservative Party members and the Scottish National Party (SNP) by deviating from tradition and permitting a vote on Labour’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This decision came about when Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, proposed an amendment to an SNP motion, both of which sought to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Although the differences between the Labour and SNP motions were minimal, Sir Keir was warned that he could face a significant rebellion from within his party if a vote on Labour’s proposed amendment was not allowed.
Due to mounting pressure from their constituents and dissatisfaction with the Labour Party’s handling of the Gaza conflict, many of Sir Keir’s Members of Parliament (MPs) were willing to defy his leadership and support the SNP’s call for a ceasefire.
However, breaking from established tradition, Sir Lindsay allowed MPs to vote on three separate motions regarding the Gaza conflict: those proposed by the SNP, Labour, and Rishi Sunak’s government.
Sir Lindsay was met with howls of “shame” and “bring back [former Commons speaker John] Bercow” from Tory and SNP MPs, who felt he had sided with Labour to let Sir Keir save face.
Now, Members of Parliament (MPs) will have the opportunity to vote on Labour’s stance regarding the Gaza conflict, followed by the SNP’s and then the government’s.
This sequence allows Labour MPs who are feeling pressure from their constituents to support a ceasefire in Gaza without defying Sir Keir’s leadership.
Sir Lindsay stated it was a “highly sensitive subject” on which “feelings are running high”.
“I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options, I have therefore decided to select the amendments both in the name of the prime minister and in the name of the leader of the opposition.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, has denied claims of being pressured by senior Labour figures into allowing the vote. However, suspicions linger among Tory and SNP MPs, who speculate that the former Labour MP intentionally chose to relieve Sir Keir Starmer from a challenging situation.
Tory MP William Wragg, who chairs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, went a step further by tabling an early-day motion expressing a lack of confidence in Mr. Speaker.
Meanwhile, Tory MP Dr. Luke Evans reported having witnessed Sir Keir mouthing “thank you” to Sir Lindsay.
Even Sir Lindsay’s top adviser, Tom Goldsmith, had cautioned against allowing a vote on Labour’s amendment, deeming it a “departure from the long-established convention.”
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The Clerk of the House said he recognized the Speaker’s discretion and that he was “motivated by giving the House the widest choice of decisions”.
Sir Keir has hardened his stance on Israel’s invasion in recent days to join the SNP in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Labour submitted an amendment to the SNP’s motion that also called for a ceasefire, but stopped short of accusing Israel of “collective punishment” and stressed that Israel “cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence”.
Just hours before the crucial vote, Sir Keir Starmer’s strategy faced a major challenge when the government introduced its proposed amendment.
Typically, in parliamentary procedure, this would take precedence over Labour’s amendment, leaving Sir Keir’s MPs with the tough decision of supporting either the SNP, or the Tories, or abstaining on the ceasefire issue.
However, there was a significant turn of events for Sir Keir when Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle made an “exceptional” decision.
He announced that MPs would be allowed to vote specifically on Labour’s amendments.
Sir Keir has been under mounting pressure from within his party to endorse a ceasefire in Gaza. This pressure intensified as he seemed to be politically overshadowed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s recent leftward shift in position.
Furthermore, Sir Keir’s change in stance last weekend was arguably eclipsed by Prince William’s unexpected call for urgent peace.
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