MPs call for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to resign after Gaza debate chaos

Over 60 MPs have signed a no-confidence motion against the Speaker in the House of Commons after a controversy yesterday during a ceasefire vote on the Gaza conflict. 

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who has served as the Speaker since 2019 and as an MP for Chorley since 1997, was made to apologise after Labour was given an amendment to an SNP proposal. This meant the Scottish National Party lost its designated opposition day. 

With his position under pressure, dozens of Conservative MPs have accused the Speaker of making an “overly political decision” to help Sir Keir Starmer stop a rebellion from his MPs, who could have supported the motion without a labour option.  

Labour’s amendment was passed without a ballot as Tory MPs chose not to vote and withdrew theirs.This meant anyone supporting the SNP amendment did not get a chance to vote on their own proposal, leading to fury and chaos in the House.  

MPs from the SNP and the Conservatives walked out in protest, demanding Sir Lindsay to apologise for his decisions.  

Conservative MP Maria Caulfield said she would “struggle to support” Sir Lindsay after yesterday’s events and SNP leader Stephen Flynn said he would “take significant convincing.” 

Mr Flynn said the Speaker’s actions saw “an SNP opposition day turn into a Labour Party opposition day” and took away from the real issue of ending the fighting in Gaza. 

The Labour Party initially supported the government, calling for a pause in fighting rather than a ceasefire. However, after the SNP decided to raise the issue, Labour put forward an amendment calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” instead. 

Although there are no formal ways MPs can expel the Speaker, after Mr Hoyle’s handling of the debate MPs are publicly calling for his resignation.