Sir Lindsay apologises amid calls to resign over Gaza vote chaos – live
The Speaker's management of the Gaza vote led to a walkout by both SNP and Conservative MPs from the Commons.
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A lot of people are urging Sir Lindsay Hoyle to step down following the submission of a no confidence motion by 33 Members of Parliament on Wednesday evening. The speaker is feeling the weight of their pressure.
The person who was speaking said sorry because a lot of confusion happened in the House of Commons. Members from the Government and SNP left the room to show they were not happy with the way he was managing the discussion about the ceasefire in Gaza.
The focus was on his choice to deviate from the norm and choose Labour's proposal to modify the SNP's motion demanding an "instant truce" in Gaza and Israel. This proposal was later approved without a vote.
Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, has accused Sir Lindsay of taking over the discussion and damaging the trust of the House.
Consequently, she retracted the proposed change from the government, prompting Conservative and Scottish National Party Members of Parliament to leave the room in protest.
Even though Sir Lindsay apologized to the chamber, 33 MPs signed a motion called Early Day Motion expressing their lack of confidence towards the speaker on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, the Gaza health ministry reported that 29,313 individuals had tragically lost their lives due to the ongoing warfare in the destroyed Palestinian region. The conflict arose when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7th, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 253 hostages, as stated by Israel.
Labour Denies Pressuring Sir Lindsay For Amendment Call
When Pat McFadden was questioned about whether or not Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had informed the Commons Speaker that the party would not support him unless he brought the motion to a vote, McFadden stated that it was completely false.
The Labour National Campaign Coordinator stated on Radio 4’s Today Programme that they had previously investigated the rumours they heard the day before.
"When the Speaker made his decision to permit all three proposals, he anticipated the Government's presence, but the fact that they chose to withdraw from the discussion due to a lack of support for their own proposal has not received much attention."
Pat McFadden, who coordinates the National Campaign for the Labour Party, refutes the speculations that Labour forced Sir Lindsay Hoyle to propose an amendment.
Minister Open To Hearing How Speaker Will 'fix' Issue
Maria Caulfield, who is a minister in the government, expressed that the position of Sir Lindsay Hoyle has become challenging. However, she is open to listening to his ideas on how to resolve the situation.
During an interview with Sky News, she commented that the Commons Speaker typically maintains a sense of impartiality, but his behavior on Wednesday was highly unusual and deviated from his usual conduct in Parliament.
Ms. Caulfield expressed her dissatisfaction and shock towards his actions and mentioned that it will be difficult for her to provide backing to him from now on.
She declined to directly suggest that he resign as Speaker and stated that she wants to wait and see what will unfold within the next two days. She acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for it, but wants to hear his proposals on how to rectify the situation before making a decision.
The minister also stated that this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the House, rather than the Government. The decision lies in the hands of MPs as members of the House of Commons. It wouldn't be an issue that the party would enforce strict voting instructions on.
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Labour Coordinator Backs Speaker's 'good Faith' Actions
Pat McFadden, who works as the Labour National Campaign Coordinator, expressed his sympathy towards the Speaker and is of the opinion that he acted with good intentions.
During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he mentioned that Sir Lindsay Hoyle decided to present all three possible options to Parliament due to the public's intense emotions regarding the matter.
He made that choice to provide the Parliament with a vast array of choices.
Tara Cobham wrote a blog entry on February 22, 2024 at 7:39am.
Speaker Eroded My Confidence, Claims Minister
Maria Caulfield, a government minister, expressed that the Speaker of the House of Commons had eroded her trust.
The woman stated that Sir Lindsay Hoyle had understood that his behavior was the reason for what had happened and said sorry.
When the Speaker was asked if the person still trusted him, the Speaker responded that his actions from yesterday have made the person lose trust in him.
To be an effective speaker, it is important to remain neutral and unbiased towards all parties involved.
According to Maria Caulfield, a government official, the Speaker of the House of Commons has eroded her trust in the government's leadership.
Tara Cobham posted a blog on 22nd February 2024 at 07:39.
Minister Sorry For Parliament Scene, Denies Tory Involvement
Maria Caulfield, a member of the government, expressed her embarrassment regarding the events that took place in Parliament on Wednesday whilst the conflict in Gaza continues. However, she denied any involvement of her political party in exacerbating the situation.
She said it's unacceptable that Labour was concerned about losing a vote and was able to manipulate the order paper to have their motion presented first, even though it went against the guidance of the House of Commons clerks. This type of politics makes people lose interest."
When she was asked if she felt ashamed of the events from the previous night, she answered that she did indeed. Additionally, she mentioned that the Speaker acknowledged his mistake and offered an apology to the House of Commons.
However, when asked about the rowdy behavior of the Conservatives during the session and their contribution to the disgraceful situation, she denied their involvement. The speaker was present to discuss a sensitive matter for parents and not to dwell on past events.
I have made it quite clear that the primary matter concerning Gaza must have been the main focus of yesterday's discussion.
On February 22, 2024, at 7:36 am, Tara Cobham wrote the following blog post.
Commons Chaos: What Triggered It?
The House of Commons went through a very unpleasant and disorderly day which ended with over an hour of accusations and disapproval towards Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's management of the Gaza ceasefire discussion.
The SNP decided to utilize their allotted Opposition Day Debates to advocate for an urgent truce in Gaza, the liberation of all captives detained by Hamas, and a termination of the retribution imposed on the Palestinian population as a whole.
The Labour Party put forward an amendment to the motion, in addition to the Government's one. Sir Lindsay chose to pick the Labour Party's amendment for discussion and a vote, which caused frustration among many Members of Parliament. The reason for this was:
Westminster SNP Chief Restates Labour’s ‘Obstruction’ Of Gaza Motion
The leader of SNP in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, has once again asserted on social media that Labour and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle thwarted the voting process for his party's Gaza ceasefire proposition.
He shared a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that today was meant to be a day for a truce in Gaza.
That's the reason behind SNP initiating their proposal. Unfortunately, a direct voting opportunity was hindered by the Speaker and Labour Party's conduct.
We will persistently raise our voices and advocate for individuals undergoing struggle because of this ongoing battle.
On February 22nd, 2024 at 7:00 am, Holly Evans wrote a blog post.
Speaker's Actions On Wednesday: Expectations Vs Reality
To clarify the issue regarding Sir Lindsay Hoyle's behavior yesterday, let's start by examining the standing orders. These are the official guidelines that govern the activities of the House of Commons. Please be patient with us.
Section 31 (2) states that if the government proposes changes to an Opposition Day Debate motion, the initial wording of the motion will be voted on first. If it's not accepted, then the government's alternative version will be voted on.
It was anticipated that the proposed change by the government to the SNP's proposal would be chosen for discussion, and both would be subjected to a vote.
Sir Lindsay expressed his wish for MPs to contemplate diverse choices and declared during yesterday's discussions that he would be picking both the Labour and government modifications.
He recognized that this was an unprecedented action which caused a commotion in the assembly. Sir Desmond Swayne, a former minister of the Conservative Party, ridiculed the speaker by shouting "bring back Bercow!" This was a reference to John Bercow, the previous Speaker whose tenure was marked by controversy and ended with the Brexit debates.
Sir Lindsay was also met with calls for his resignation and cries of "shame" from members belonging to both the SNP and Conservative parties.
"Tory And SNP MPs Exit Commons"
"Tory And SNP MPs Walk Out Of Crucial Gaza Vote - Watch"
The House of Commons became chaotic when Conservative and SNP MPs protested against the Speaker's management of the Gaza ceasefire debate. The Commons Leader accused Sir Lindsay Hoyle of taking over the debate by choosing Labour's proposal to change the SNP's motion. The SNP motion demanded an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It was expected that Hoyle would select only the government's amendment, which called for an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting. This could eventually lead to a permanent halt in the conflict. However, Hoyle decided that the Labour proposal would be voted on first, followed by the original SNP motion, and finally the government's proposal, should either of the previous two fail. This decision caused commotion in the House of Commons.
Namita Singh wrote a blog at 6:30 on 22 February 2024.
Shadow Defense Secretary Denies Pressuring Speaker: Untrue Accusation
John Healey, the Shadow Defence Secretary, has dismissed allegations that Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, was influenced to back the Labour amendment regarding Gaza.
Mr. Healey denied the claims that the person in question was coerced into doing something they did not want to do. The speaker and the Labor party have also rejected these accusations. The speaker was simply trying to facilitate a fair and comprehensive discussion and to protect the rights of all MPs.
The intention of his actions is to guarantee that the House of Commons votes on three different propositions, each coming from the three major political parties. The reason behind this is because he recognizes the significance it holds for not only Parliament, but also our local communities and global citizens. It is crucial for both British people and the British parliament to contribute towards promoting peace in the world.
Namita Singh - February 22nd, 2024 at 6:15 AM
