The Commons Speaker sparked fresh SNP fury today after denying their request for an emergency debate on Gaza following last week’s ceasefire vote shambles.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, had been pushing for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to allow a fresh vote on a ceasefire following Wednesday’s botched attempt.
He wanted this to happen via an emergency debate under a Standing Order 24 procedure – but the Speaker this afternoon rejected Mr Flynn’s application.
SNP MPs immediately branded the Commons a ‘mega-circus’ as they continued their campaign to oust Sir Lindsay from his role.
The total of MPs now calling for the Speaker to quit – by signing a no confidence motion – rose to 80 as the Commons returned after its weekend break.
Commons Speaker Sit Lindsay Hoyle sparked fresh SNP fury today after denying their request for an emergency debate on Gaza following last week’s ceasefire vote shambles
![Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, had been pushing for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to allow a fresh vote on a ceasefire following Wednesday's botched attempt](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/26/15/81731381-0-image-m-14_1708963025585.jpg)
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, had been pushing for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to allow a fresh vote on a ceasefire following Wednesday’s botched attempt
![The total of MPs now calling for the Speaker to quit - by signing a no confidence motion - rose to 80 as the Commons returned after its weekend break](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/26/17/81736503-13127477-image-a-17_1708968634524.jpg)
The total of MPs now calling for the Speaker to quit – by signing a no confidence motion – rose to 80 as the Commons returned after its weekend break
In response to a point of order from Mr Flynn in the Commons this afternoon, Sir Lindsay explained he was rejecting the SNP request due to the likelihood of a Government statement on Gaza tomorrow.
‘I understand the Government is ready to make a relevant statement tomorrow so there is a very imminent opportunity for this important matter to come before the House,’ the Speaker told MPs.
‘That is why I have decided the application for an emergency debate should not proceed.
‘That decision, of course, does not mean that members cannot apply for a debate at a later stage when circumstances might have changed.’
In his point of order, as he outlined his application for an emergency debate, Mr Flynn had said: ‘In good faith my colleagues and I sought to bring forward an SO24 debate which would have, amongst other things, sought to end the sales of arms to Israel and indeed to ensure that this House said to the Government that it must use its voice at the United Nations to exercise our view in favour of an immediate ceasefire.’
Following the Speaker’s denial of his demand, Mr Flynn said: ‘Last week the Speaker of the House of Commons broke the rules, this week he has broken his word.
‘The SNP has sought to act in good faith to ensure that we can move this debate forward and tried to have a discussion today on ending arms sales to Israel and ensuring the UK uses its voice in the United Nations in favour of an immediate ceasefire.
‘The fact that that has been blocked is outrageous, it flies in the face of what we were told would happen last Thursday. I think the public will be as outraged as I am.’
Mr Flynn said it would be for others to say whether Sir Lindsay Hoyle had been hypocritical, adding: ‘It seems to be the case that Westminster is happy for this matter simply to drift away again.
‘That’s not good enough and the SNP will use the opportunities that are available to us to hold this Government to account for its appalling foreign policy objectives.’
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman, a fellow SNP frontbencher, posted on social media website X: ‘The Westminster mega-circus continues.
‘The SNP has been told that the Speaker will not even consider a debate on any aspect of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza today, despite the Speaker offering a debate last week when he was up to his neck in it #NotMyParliament.’
![Sir Lindsay previously apologised for his role in last week's parliamentary meltdown](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/26/10/81719881-13126111-image-a-5_1708942491584.jpg)
Sir Lindsay previously apologised for his role in last week’s parliamentary meltdown
![Mr Flynn was pushing for Sir Lindsay to grant a fresh vote on a Gaza ceasefire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/26/10/81719879-13126111-image-a-6_1708942494576.jpg)
Mr Flynn was pushing for Sir Lindsay to grant a fresh vote on a Gaza ceasefire
![The move could have triggered a new row over pushing aside parliamentary convention - as Sir Lindsay did last week to prompt the chaotic scenes in the Commons](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/26/10/81719877-13126111-image-a-7_1708942496547.jpg)
The move could have triggered a new row over pushing aside parliamentary convention – as Sir Lindsay did last week to prompt the chaotic scenes in the Commons
Sir Lindsay had earlier been warned a move to grant a fresh Gaza ceasefire vote via a Standing Order 24 process could trigger a new over pushing aside parliamentary convention – as the Speaker did last week to prompt the chaotic scenes in the Commons.
Last week’s furious row saw the SNP fail to get a vote on their Opposition Day motion calling for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza after Sir Lindsay broke with precedent.
The Speaker selected both a Labour amendment and a Government amendment amid claims of a ‘stitch-up’ to help Sir Keir Starmer avoid another revolt on the issue.
The Labour leader had previously seen 56 of his MPs defy him and support calls for an immediate ceasefire when the Commons last voted on the issue in November.
Sir Keir has since denied threatening Sir Lindsay to select Labour’s amendment, which backed an ‘immediate humanitarian ceasefire’ along with caveats over the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas.
He said he ‘simply urged’ the Speaker to have the ‘broadest possible debate’.
Sir Lindsay himself said fears over MPs’ safety played a part in his decision, which has led to angry Tory claims he ‘bowed to the mob’ amid continuing pro-Palestinian protests across the country.
The SNP had demanded an ’emergency debate’ in the Commons so they could stage a re-run of the botched ceasefire vote.
These can be granted under a Standing Order 24 procedure, but the terms of them are usually neutral and merely ‘take note’ of an issue.
By wanting a motion that takes a stance on a Gaza ceasefire, the SNP were threatening to force Sir Lindsay into choosing whether he upends parliamentary convention again.
There is precedent for doing so after John Bercow, the former Speaker, controversially allowed an emergency debate to be held on a ‘substantive motion’ in 2019.
This allowed opponents of a no-deal Brexit to take control of Commons business.
Yet, Sir Lindsay would have been wary of further infuriating Tory critics behind a ‘Just Stop Hoyle’ campaign to oust him.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak does not back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but supports an ‘immediate humanitarian pause’ as the best way to stop the fighting.
Mr Flynn said earlier: ‘After the shameful scenes at Westminster last week, it’s vital the UK Parliament urgently focuses on what really matters, doing everything we can to help secure an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza and Israel.
‘The SNP wants to move the debate forward with a fresh motion that focuses on the specific, practical, concrete steps the UK Government must now take to help make an immediate ceasefire happen.
‘As a key ally and defence trading partner of Israel, and a member of the UN Security Council, the UK has an important role to play but the UK Government, which still opposes even calling for an immediate ceasefire, is not doing anywhere near enough to secure one.’
He added: ‘We are keen to build as much consensus as possible, while recognising the need to substantially shift the dial on the positions of Sunak and Starmer, who have been too timid in their approach to securing an immediate ceasefire – and not forgetting the success the SNP has had in changing the terms of the debate by doggedly sticking by our principles and values.
‘The devastation in Gaza gets worse every day, with more innocent children, women and men killed, more homes bombed, and more civilians facing starvation.
‘The time for warm words is over, the UK must use every lever at its disposal to help end this conflict and secure lasting peace.’
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