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

SNP and Conservative MPs walk out of the Commons over the speaker’s handling of the Gaza vote

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.

Key points

• ‘Protest must not turn into abuse’ - No. 10
• Sunak brands MP threats ‘unacceptable in response to protests outside MPs’ homes
• Home secretary backs Commons Speaker
• Cleverly says politicians should not make decisions based on threats
• Speaker’s actions very concerning, says Rishi Sunak
• Lindsay Hoyle apologises again over Gaza ceasefire vote
• Starmer denies threatening speaker

[22 February 2024 11:55 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Ireland tells UN’s top courts states must oblige to bring end to ‘Israel’s serious breach'

Ireland has told the UN’s top court that states are obliged to co-operate to bring an end to “Israel’s serious breach” of its duty to respect the rights of Palestinian people.

Irish attorney general Rossa Fanning said states are obliged not to render aid or assistance in maintaining this situation.

He said it was Ireland’s view that all states are required to review trading relationships with settlements in the OPT, requiring them to take steps to prevent trade which maintains settlement activity or implicitly legitimises Israel’s annexation of that territory.

Mr Fanning also told the International Court of Justice that Israel’s military occupation of the OPT since 1967 has involved extensive, permanent and deliberate settlement building.

He said: “Neither the duration of the occupation nor the scale and extent of settlement activity is, in Ireland’s view, justified or permitted by the law regulating the use of force in self defence.

“Indeed, if the security of one people can only be achieved by the occupation over so many decades of the territory of another people, one has to wonder whether there can be any military solution to the problem that it purports to address. In our view, the only effective solution to the problem can be a political one.”

[22 February 2024 11:52 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

‘We have nothing to eat’: Desperate Gaza children march against bombing and food shortages

Young children in Gaza have marched in protest against bombardment of the war-torn enclave and ongoing food shortages.

A video taken on Wednesday morning showed a group of boys and girls calling for an end to Israel’s siege, as the reported dead toll in Gaza approaches 30,000 since the 7 October Hamas attacks.

They held homemade posters, shouted and banged sticks on saucepans and trays as they walked past rubble and destroyed vehicles in northern Gaza.

Athena Stavrou has more: