Lindsay Hoyle under pressure over Gaza vote as No 10 brands MP threats ‘attack on democracy’ - live
More than 70 MPs sign no-confidence motion in Commons speaker as PM expresses concerns
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Rishi Sunak has said it is “unacceptable” for protesters to demonstrate outside MPs’ homes as Downing Street said protest must not “turn into abuse”.
Speaking during a tour of North Wales on Friday, the prime minister said: “It’s simply unacceptable for intimidation or aggressive behaviour to threaten our parliamentary democracy and our freedom of expression.”
He added that he is giving police more power to clamp down on “intimidation and aggressive behaviour”.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “We will continue to keep MPs’ security under review to ensure that they have the protections that they need. We’re also both clear that we won’t allow democracy to be silenced or stifled.
“And intimidation against MPs is an attack on democracy and we won’t allow that to win.”
James Cleverly also vowed to be vigilant against threats and pressure on MPs after Sir Lindsay Hoyle argued his actions in the Gaza ceasefire vote were motivated by concern about security.
More than 70 Conservative and SNP MPs signed a no-confidence motion in Sir Lindsay in the aftermath.
Vote on Labour amendment stands
The outcome of the vote in favour of a Labour amendment in the Gaza debate on Wednesday stands, the Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has said.
Conservative MP Matthew Offord told MPs: “The level of intimidation is unacceptable, but it’s also many of my constituents who have faced a level of antisemitism that we have never seen before.”
Dr Offord added: “How do I reassure my constituents that this place does not treat issues of interest to my Jewish constituents differently, when last night the Labour motion came after the moment of interruption and was nodded through without a vote?”
Ms Mordaunt said: “I know honourable members will be asking questions about what happened with regard to the vote last night. I can say to honourable members I have consulted with the clerks of the House and the vote stands because it is a matter for the chair.
“And I would encourage colleagues to go and talk to the clerks of the House to understand that more. But I fully appreciate the anger and disappointment from all sides of the House about people not being able to vote on particular motions or amendments last night and what happened after the moment of interruption.”
SNP leader says Hoyle’s position untenable
SNP leader Humza Yousaf has said the position of Sir Lindsay Hoyle “looks untenable”.
Asked whether the Speaker should stand down, he said: “As Stephen [Flynn] my colleague has said, he has serious questions to answer.
“His position looks to me to be untenable.
“What we saw was frankly disgraceful, chaotic scenes in the House of Commons.
“And I think the true tragedy of that is that it takes away from what is the most important issue and that is the fact that we have an absolute humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded and is deepening in Gaza.”
Lindsay Hoyle apologises to SNP over Gaza ceasefire vote
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has apologised to the SNP today as he said: “I also don’t want another attack on this House. I was in the chair on that day.
“I have seen, I have witnessed, I won’t share the details, but the details of the things that have been brought to me are absolutely frightening on all members of this House, on all sides.
“I have a duty of care, and I say that, and if my mistake is looking after Members I am guilty.”
Sir Lindsay added: “I am guilty because... I have a duty of care that I will carry out to protect people.
“It is the protection that led me to make a wrong decision but what I do not apologise (for) is the risk that has been put on all Members at the moment. I had serious meetings yesterday with the police on the issues and threats to politicians for us heading to an election.
“I do not want anything to happen again. So yes, I will apologise, I always will when I make a mistake. I did, I offer an SO24, that is within my gift and power. But I will also say I will do whatever it is to protect anybody in this chamber or anybody who work in this House. That is my duty of care.”
Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell raised concerns that MPs’ decisions are starting to be influenced by inappropriate pressure being applied from campaigners.
She said: “As we debate these important matters, a long shadow is increasingly cast over us. Threats, intimidation and security concerns.”
She added: “I know it is of huge concern to Mr Speaker too and something which keeps him awake at night, and is his first priority.” She said “the legitimate lobbying of members if part and parcel of our job and our democracy”, but added: “Yet we are increasingly seeing a line being crossed.
“I know members feel uncomfortable discussing their experiences for fear of attracting more unwanted attention, or because we don’t want to come across as whingeing when we have such privileged positions.”
She said reports that the homes of MPs would be targeted during the upcoming election have “caused huge anxiety” and is a “totally unacceptable development”.
She said: “It’s antidemocratic and undoubtedly now starting to affect people’s decisions and their behaviours. That is wrong and we must do more to address it.”
Watch: Penny Mordaunt claims Speaker Hoyle is victim of ‘weak and fickle’ Starmer
Starmer denies threatening Sir Lindsay Hoyle to select Labour’s amendment
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has “categorically” denied threatening Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to select Labour’s amendment in the Gaza ceasefire debate in a move that unleashed parliamentary chaos.
Speaking at a train depot in Sussex he said: “I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever.
“I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate.
“So that actually the most important thing , which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them.”
Starmer says Sir Lindsay Hoyle did ‘the right thing’ by selecting Labour’s amendments
Sir Lindsay Hoyle did “the right thing” by selecting Labour’s amendment in the Gaza ceasefire debate, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.
Sir Keir said: “The Speaker did the right thing in making sure the debate was broad.
“But the tragedy is the SNP walked off the pitch because they wanted to divide the Labour Party and they couldn’t, and the Government walked off the pitch because it thought it was going to lose a vote.
“So we had one party that was simply seeking to divide on an important issue, the Government lost control of its own MPs and couldn’t control the votes.
“We should have had a proper debate and a proper resolution with all three propositions being put to a vote.”
No PM backing in blow for Lindsay Hoyle
The Prime Minister’s spokesman has refused to say that Rishi Sunak has confidence in the Speaker.
Repeatedly asked by reporters if the prime minister backs the Speaker following the furore in the House of Commons last night, the PM’s spox said that Mr Sunak’s focus remains on “addressing a very serious situation” in the middle east.
He added that “obviously the Prime Minister would have very serious concerns” if MPs were “coming under unacceptable pressure”.
He would not say that the prime minister had full confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle, nor would he clarify if the pair had met.
Mordaunt says SNP have ‘right to debate their issues'
Penny Mordaunt said she was sympathetic to giving the SNP further opportunities to lead debates in the Commons, after suggestions from the party that Labour had overtaken their opposition day.
The Commons Leader said: “It is no secret to anyone that regularly tunes into these sessions that I frequently disagree with the Scottish National Party on everything that they raise in this chamber.
“But they have a right to say these things on the floor of the House and debate their issues. If I was able to speak in the debate yesterday I would have been critical of how they brought forward the motion and perhaps their motives for doing so, but it is their right to do that and our standing orders protect the ability in particularly of minority parties to be able to have those debates.”
“There are serious consequences to the decision that was taken yesterday for minority parties and also for the Government. Our amendment was the only one for example that mentioned violence against women and girls that took place.”
She added: “I am very sympathetic to the SNP being given more time. I also have to say I am sympathetic about it being knocked off the Labour Party’s allocation.
“With regard to the serious matter of Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker did come to the House yesterday, he did apologise and I know he is meeting with all parties on this matter, and I will be meeting with him later today.”
Mordaunt blames Labour for Commons chaos
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt blamed the Labour Party for chaotic scenes in the Commons on Wednesday.
Speaking in the Commons, she said: “This House will never bow to extremists, threats, or intimidation. It has not, it will not, it must not.
“And I would ask all honourable members not to do this House a further disservice by suggesting that the shameful events that took place yesterday were anything other than party politics on behalf of the Labour Party.”
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