Speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s allies warn MPs plotting to oust him to be ‘careful what you wish for’ after 93 submit motion of no confidence over Gaza ceasefire vote

Allies of Sir Lindsay Hoyle have warned MPs plotting to oust him to be ‘careful what you wish for’.

The Commons Speaker is under threat as 93 MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in him. 

It follows his breach of convention by allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Commons Privileges Committee is set to launch a probe into Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with the Speaker before the debate began. ‘The heat will be on Keir,’ a source said.

Allies of the Speaker, including former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, have been urging colleagues not to oust Sir Lindsay, with some insisting potential replacements would be ‘worse’.

Allies of the Speaker, including former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace , have been urging colleagues not to oust Sir Lindsay

There is no formal mechanism to oust the Commons Speaker – but the motion of no confidence could make his position untenable. ‘If the number of MPs goes beyond 100, he’s toast’, one politician predicted.

Runners and riders being discussed include Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities committee – and is tipped as the favourite – deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing, and former Northern Ireland Secretary Dame Karen Bradley.

Some Tories in a Conservative MP WhatsApp group mocked calls rallying for Party members to ‘get behind one candidate’ by saying: ‘How’s that gone these past four years?’

A third told colleagues signing the motion: ‘Be very careful what you wish for’.

It comes as Harriet Harman’s Commons Privileges Committee weighs up launching an inquiry into Sir Keir’s meeting with the Speaker. 

Sir Lindsay was reportedly warned he might have ‘blood on his hands’ if he did not allow a Labour amendment as their MPs would be put at greater risk of attacks by pro-Palestine campaigners.