Lindsay Hoyle fights back as Sunak criticises speaker’s ‘concerning’ choice
Lindsay Hoyle defended himself as Speaker of the House of Commons after facing criticism from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed concern over Hoyle's handling of a Gaza-related debate.
Amidst a backlash, 67 MPs from the Conservative and SNP parties signed a motion of no confidence in Hoyle.
The controversy began when Hoyle allowed a debate on a Labour amendment concerning Gaza, which had been threatened to alleviate perceived threats to MPs, bypassing the SNP's motion. Sunak highlighted that this deviated from standard parliamentary practice and emphasized the importance of not yielding to extremists' intimidation.
After the escalation, Sunak pointed out Hoyle had apologized and would reflect on the incident, suggesting a willingness to move on, while other government officials did not support calls for Hoyle's resignation. Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell echoed this sentiment, not demanding Hoyle's ouster.
Hoyle further apologized for his decision, explaining he was trying to protect MPs from "absolutely frightening" threats. The SNP had proposed a motion for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, Labour's included terms for a two-state solution, and Conservative's had extensive conditions.
When Hoyle favored the Labour amendment, the government retracted its motion, leading to Labour's victory due to insufficient time and votes for the Conservatives' version.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn deemed Hoyle's position unsustainable, yet Commons leader Penny Mordaunt maintained Hoyle's decency.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch shared former attorney general Geoffrey Cox's critique, highlighting concerns over Hoyle's motives and the potential influence of external threats on parliamentary processes.
During a House session, opinions on Hoyle's future were divided, with both criticism and support voiced by MPs. Labour leader Keir Starmer supported the debate expansion and denied pressuring Hoyle, aiming for a comprehensive discussion on Gaza.
The controversy began when Hoyle allowed a debate on a Labour amendment concerning Gaza, which had been threatened to alleviate perceived threats to MPs, bypassing the SNP's motion. Sunak highlighted that this deviated from standard parliamentary practice and emphasized the importance of not yielding to extremists' intimidation.
After the escalation, Sunak pointed out Hoyle had apologized and would reflect on the incident, suggesting a willingness to move on, while other government officials did not support calls for Hoyle's resignation. Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell echoed this sentiment, not demanding Hoyle's ouster.
Hoyle further apologized for his decision, explaining he was trying to protect MPs from "absolutely frightening" threats. The SNP had proposed a motion for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, Labour's included terms for a two-state solution, and Conservative's had extensive conditions.
When Hoyle favored the Labour amendment, the government retracted its motion, leading to Labour's victory due to insufficient time and votes for the Conservatives' version.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn deemed Hoyle's position unsustainable, yet Commons leader Penny Mordaunt maintained Hoyle's decency.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch shared former attorney general Geoffrey Cox's critique, highlighting concerns over Hoyle's motives and the potential influence of external threats on parliamentary processes.
During a House session, opinions on Hoyle's future were divided, with both criticism and support voiced by MPs. Labour leader Keir Starmer supported the debate expansion and denied pressuring Hoyle, aiming for a comprehensive discussion on Gaza.
