Sir Lindsay Hoyle has blocked the SNP’s bid for a fresh Commons vote on a ceasefire in Gaza after last week’s chaos in Parliament.
The Speaker said he could not agree to a request from the SNP for their motion calling for the UK Government to take “concrete actions” to help stop the conflict in the Middle East.
The move followed widespread criticism over Hoyle’s decision to allow the Commons to vote, in a break with parliamentary convention, on Labour’s alternative proposal for an “all-sides” ceasefire, which also called on Hamas to release hostages and stop attacking Israel.
Hoyle said he could not allow the so-called SO24 request because it brought ministers of the crown into its scope, and also claimed the House had settled the matter in last week’s opposition day debate. He said the Government would be making a statement on Gaza on Tuesday.
Hoyle’s decision is likely to fuel calls for him to resign, with the number of MPs expressing no confidence in him rising to 80.
But by blocking the SNP motion, Hoyle is also avoiding a bigger showdown with the Conservatives and Labour, who would have criticised him if he had allowed it to go ahead.
The SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, said Hoyle’s decision “failed Gaza” and would further erode trust in his speakership.
Flynn said: “Yet again, Westminster is failing the people of Gaza by blocking a vote on the urgent action the UK Government must take to help make an immediate ceasefire happen.
“For months, the UK Parliament has blocked SNP calls for an immediate ceasefire – and now it’s blocking a vote on the concrete actions the UK Government must pursue to make an immediate ceasefire more likely.
“The UK is a key ally and defence trading partner of Israel and the United States, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is not a powerless spectator – and Parliament has a moral duty to ensure the UK Government is doing everything it can.
“Around 30,000 Palestinian children, women and men have been killed while Westminster has dithered and delayed – and huge swathes of Gaza have been obliterated. The UK’s strategy of equivocation has failed.”
Flynn said it was essential that “warm words on an immediate ceasefire” had to be backed up with concrete action.
He added: “It’s regrettable that this inexplicable decision will further erode trust in the Speaker. The Speaker broke the rules last week – and this week he has broken his word.
“How can MPs have any trust in the Speaker when he makes a public commitment one minute, only to rip it up the next. If 30,000 dead Palestinians aren’t worthy of an emergency debate – what is?”
