MPs are continuing to sign Will Wragg’s Early Day Motion of no-confidence in the Speaker. Hoyle has his public defenders, including Ben Wallace, who says “He is not a bully nor a grandstander nor pompous. He has my full support.” Pressure on Mr Speaker is rising. Guido will bring you the latest…
Current tally: 87 (Philip Dunne signed and withdrew).
UPDATE: Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt backs Hoyle, saying he was the victim of bullying by “fickle” and “ruthless” Starmer.
UPDATE II: Hoyle has retracted his offer to the SNP of another debate on Gaza because the government plans to “make a relevant statement” around the situation in Gaza tomorrow.
Guido will update the below list of signers as the day goes on…
Government minister Maria Caulfield is on the morning round and made clear the government’s displeasure when it comes to the Speaker’s conduct last night. Caulfield has said Hoyle’s “position is difficult” and she “would struggle now to support him“. An Early Day Motion declaring no confidence in Hoyle has ticked up to at least 42 votes. The ball is in the government’s court when it comes to voting Hoyle out. Just Stop Hoyle?
Labour claims it is “categorically untrue” that the Speaker was told to pick Labour’s amendment while meetings took place with him and the party delayed proceedings in the Chamber for as long as possible. At the very least Caulfield says Hoyle’s decision to go against the Clerk of the house is a “red line“. Hoyle has apologised and seemed genuinely contrite last night…
Lindsay Hoyle returned to the chair in a febrile Commons chamber, then left, then came back to make a statement. Hoyle has pledged to meet the “important players” of all parties to explain himself “in private“. The nub of his statement is:
“I thought it was the right thing and the best thing and I regret it, and I apologise.“
The Tories and SNP aren’t happy…
The Speaker has called both the Government’s and Labour’s amendments in SNP Gaza debate. This is a break with precedent after Labour pushed a vote on a ten-minute rule bill to spend more time negotiating with Hoyle. Tom Goldsmith, clerk of the House, says the move “represents a departure from the long-established convention for dealing with such amendments on Opposition days, governed by Standing Order No. 31”. Playing politics…
There is a “mass lobby” going on today – as part of which protestors co-ordinate visits to Parliament at the same time and crowd outside the chamber. At least forty police officers are stood directly outside Parliament right now ahead of vote. Things could get nasty…
Guido hears Starmer and Hoyle were stood in a room for some time screaming at each other while Tory whips repeatedly tried to be let in. Tory MPs are privately worried that not only is Hoyle breaching precedent, he is also jeopardising their safety whilst a baying mob of pro-Palestinian protestors are outside. Guido hears there are serious concerns Hoyle is appeasing “Labour’s internal politics” all the while pro-Palestine protestors roam inside the building. Hoyle’s decision isn’t going down well…
UPDATE: Tory MPs are shouting “Bring Back Bercow” in the Chamber…
UPDATE II: Guido understands pro-Palestinian graffiti has appeared in the public toilets.
UPDATE III: Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt tells the Commons
“The government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on proceedings”
The chaos sees SNP and Tories walk out in bad tempered scenes. Dear oh, dear.
Read Tom Goldsmith’s full advice below:
In an embarrassing kickoff to the New Year, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has had to scramble to correct the record over an email sent to MPs that said the Palestinian flag would be flown over Parliament next week during meeting with the Palestinian ambassador and the Speaker. The email wasn’t exactly ambiguous…
The email sparked backlash from Policy Exchange’s Iain Mansfield, who tweeted:
“The UK does not recognise the state of Palestine. Should the Speaker be committing the entire House of Commons to such a controversial position on the current conflict? Is Speaker-led diplomacy really appropriate in this case?”
Speaker Hoyle has since denied that a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador will take place and has clarified that the flag will not be flown, with a spokesperson telling the Express that “A routine internal planning email was sent in error.” Double checking emails should be on the Commons’ New Year’s resolution list…
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed new lax rules on travel expenses due to security concerns following incidents where the offices of MPs who did not support a ceasefire in last week’s vote were targeted last week. In a letter to all MPs, Hoyle said the independent expenses body, IPSA, will not disclose the details of new taxi journeys due to “security implications.” Not having to disclose taxpayer-funded taxi trips will certainly encourage MPs to jump in a cab more often…
Hoyle also pledged ramped up Met Police security outside Parliament, with a new focus on exits and entries. Might be trickier for co-conspirators to find an Uber in Westminster from now on…
Read his full letter below:
