Sir Keir Starmer can breathe a sigh of relief this afternoon. The Speaker has selected his party’s amendment on a Gaza ceasefire, after an hour of frenzied lobbying from the Labour Whips’ Office. Lindsay Hoyle told MPs that he has selected both the Labour and government amendments as this is an issue where they will want to consider a wide range of options. It means that a likely mass rebellion from Labour MPs will be averted – as happened the last time the SNP tabled an opposition day debate on Gaza in December.
The Scottish nationalists are furious at Hoyle’s decision to select the Labour amendment. They claim it is in breach of precedent whereby one opposition party cannot alter another’s motion. ‘This is the SNP’s opposition day,’ declared Owen Thompson. ‘What’s the point if it’s going to be done like this?’ He was met with a burst of applause from the SNP, with Pete Wishart subsequently tweeting that it is an ‘Absolutely ridiculous ruling from the Speaker.’
Tory MPs are equally enraged at Hoyle, with calls of ‘Shame’ and ‘Bring back Bercow’ heard from the press gallery. In a letter published shortly after Hoyle’s announcement, the Clerk of the House appeared to disagree with the Speaker’s decision. Tom Goldsmith wrote that it ‘represents a departure from long-established convention’ adding ‘I feel compelled to point out that long-established conventions are not being followed in this case.’
This afternoon will be one of those occasions when little-known elements of parliamentary procedure clash with the very real passions felt across the House on the Middle Eastern crisis. It is not yet clear whether the government will whip its MPs to vote against Labour’s amendment, or whether it will let them abstain, and allow it to pass. But the fact that it is Lindsay Hoyle, not Keir Starmer, who is the main object of Tory MPs’ ire will cheer those in Labour who feared a repeat December’s scenes tonight.
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