The government and the SNP are furious at the Speaker over his parliamentary jiggery-pokery on the Gaza vote. In calling Labour’s amendment to an SNP ceasefire motion alongside the government’s amendment, it meant there was no vote on the Nationalists’ original resolution. It was an SNP opposition day in parliament, but the Speaker handed it to Labour instead.
Lindsay Hoyle’s actions prompted SNP and Conservative MPs to walk out in protest. So far 51 members have signed an early day motion expressing no confidence in the Speaker. Absent a dramatic turnaround in Conservative and SNP feelings about his actions, it is difficult to see how he can remain in office.
Yet in many ways, this is the least outrageous explanation for what happened yesterday. The more objectionable — downright chilling, to be blunt — is one supplied by the Speaker when he addressed the Commons last night to account
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