Commons speaker apologises after Gaza ceasefire debate descends into chaos

Source: The Guardian

Commons speaker apologises after Gaza ceasefire debate descends into chaos

Government boycotts precedent-breaking vote that saved Labour mutiny, leaving Tory and SNP MPs to aim fury at Lindsay Hoyle

Kiran Stacey Political correspondent
Wed 21 Feb 2024 20.59 GMT
Last modified on Wed 21 Feb 2024 23.47 GMT

The speaker of the House of Commons issued an unprecedented apology after a fractious and occasionally chaotic parliamentary debate on Gaza.

MPs voted unanimously for a Labour motion calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, but only after Lindsay Hoyle upended years of parliamentary precedent to allow the party to bring its motion to a vote.

Conservative and Scottish National party MPs reacted with fury to Hoyle’s decision, which the speaker said was designed to air a wide range of opinions but which also allowed the Labour leader to dodge the biggest rebellion of his leadership.

Some are now trying to unseat Hoyle while others are urging the Conservatives to ignore common practice and stand against him at the general election

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/21/commons-speaker-issues-apology-after-gaza-ceasefire-debate-descends-into-chaos