The recent chaos surrounding a debate on Gaza in the House of Commons has led to growing calls for Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to resign. The SNP has accused him of being involved in a “stitch up” with Labour over the handling of amendments to a motion, which Labour has denied. SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, has called for Sir Lindsay to make a personal statement detailing his meetings and communications with the Labour leadership regarding the debate. This has raised questions about the Speaker’s impartiality and integrity, with 57 MPs signing a no confidence motion against him at the time of writing.
The controversy started when Sir Lindsay allowed a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP motion, a move that is unusual as opposition parties are not typically able to amend opposition motions. Some Tory MPs viewed this decision as unfair, especially since Labour’s amendment was chosen to be voted on first. This led to accusations that the debate was “hijacked” by Labour, resulting in Conservative and SNP MPs storming out of the chamber. Health minister Maria Caulfield suggested that Labour influenced the Speaker’s decision because they were bound to lose heavily without the amendment.
The pressure on Sir Lindsay to resign has intensified, with both Labour and the SNP expressing discontent over his handling of the debate. While Labour denies attempting to influence the Speaker’s decision, there are allegations that Labour whips implied to Sir Lindsay that they would not support him in his position after the next election if he did not pick their party’s amendment. This has raised concerns about political interference in the Speaker’s role and has put his impartiality into question.
The situation has led to discussions about whether the Speaker can be sacked and what the implications would be if he were to resign. The clerk of the House has indicated that the decision to select both amendments was a departure from the long-established convention for dealing with such amendments on opposition days. However, ultimately, Sir Lindsay has discretion over what amendments to choose, raising questions about the limits of his powers and the accountability of his actions.
As Sir Lindsay faces calls to resign and accusations of bias, the future of his role as Commons Speaker remains uncertain. While he has already apologized for his handling of the debate and is set to meet with cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt and party chief whips, the pressure on him to step down continues to mount. The outcome of this meeting and the Speaker’s response to the allegations will likely determine his fate in the coming days.
The allegations surrounding Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle have raised serious questions about his impartiality and integrity in handling parliamentary debates. The growing calls for his resignation and the accusations of political influence in his decision-making process highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the Speaker’s role. As the controversy unfolds, the future of Sir Lindsay’s tenure as Speaker hangs in the balance, with the outcome of the ongoing investigations likely to have far-reaching implications for the House of Commons and the political landscape in the UK.