Should the Speaker resign? A controversial move over a Gaza ceasefire debate has sent Britain’s Parliament spiralling into chaos. Some MPs think the Speaker should be punished.
House of Commons meltdown over Gaza vote
Should the Speaker resign? A controversial move over a Gaza ceasefire debate has sent Britain's Parliament spiralling into chaos. Some MPs think the Speaker should be punished.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper"><strong>Order, order</strong></h2>
It was a Wednesday Sir Lindsay Hoyle will want to forget. But he probably never will.
Hoyle, the SpeakerIn the UK, an MP who is chosen to keep order during debates in the House of Commons and chose which MPs can speak. of the House of CommonsThe democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament. , is at the centre of the biggest British parliamentary drama of the year so far. "Speaker on brink," howled The Daily Telegraph. "Fury in Commons," said The Guardian. Sketch writerIn the UK, writers who make "verbal cartoons" about Parliament for newspapers. Quentin Letts called it "Mutiny on the Thames."
The House of Commons had met to debate the GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. conflict. The governing ConservativesA traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories. and main opposition parties all supported a pause in the fighting.1
On most days, the government brings motions to ParliamentAn assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws. . But Wednesday was a designated opposition day for the Scottish National PartyA political party founded in 1934 that wishes to ultimately make Scotland independent. It is the largest party in Scotland. (SNP). This means that the SNP's motionsFormal proposals for discussion. are debated in Parliament. Other opposition parties are not allowed to table amendmentsMinor changes to approve a piece of writing or proposed law, for example. .
Hoyle broke this tradition. He allowed a LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. amendment before the SNP motion.
The outrage was immediate. MPs erupted in heckles and jeers. Leader of the HouseIn the UK, a government minister who organises government business in the House of Commons. Penny Mordaunt announced she would pull the government's amendment.2 The SNP were enraged at not being able to vote for their unamended motion. Labour's amendment passed without a vote, making it non-binding.
Hoyle now faces calls to resign. His critics argue that his action challenged the basis of British democracy. Parliament operates through strict conventions.3 Breaking one opens the door for more.
Hoyle was a Labour MP. Many Labour MPs planned to vote for the SNP's motion. By allowing the Labour amendment first, Hoyle saved its leader Keir Starmer from an embarrassing rebellion.
"This should have been the chance to do the right thing," said SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. "Instead it turned into a Westminster circus". If Parliament is not trusted to act in the country's best interest, its legitimacyWhen a ruler or institution has the right to lead or rule. is at risk.
Yet some think the furore is overstated. Hoyle has said he wanted MPs to hear the "widest possible range of options".4 The more options considered, the better the debate.
The debate reveals a self-obsessed British politics, where the party trumps serious issues. As John Crace writes in The Guardian: "If only MPs were capable of self-reflection they would be in a downward shame spiral."
Should the Speaker resign?
Yes: Rules are rules. They have to matter at all times to matter at all. Hoyle must be made an example. If he can get away with ignoring convention, why should any politician follow them at all?
No: Children are dying in Gaza. Hoyle understood that MPs should do everything they can to call for a ceasefire and halt the conflict. The MPs' petty squabbling shames their country.
Or... British politics is often forgiving: Home SecretaryIn Britain, they are responsible for national security, immigration and policing. Suella Braverman was made to resign then got her job back within six days (she was later fired). Hoyle will bounce back.
Speaker - In the UK, an MP who is chosen to keep order during debates in the House of Commons and chose which MPs can speak.
House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament.
Sketch writer - In the UK, writers who make "verbal cartoons" about Parliament for newspapers.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Conservatives - A traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories.
parliament - An assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws.
Scottish National Party - A political party founded in 1934 that wishes to ultimately make Scotland independent. It is the largest party in Scotland.
Motions - Formal proposals for discussion.
Amendments - Minor changes to approve a piece of writing or proposed law, for example.
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
Leader of the House - In the UK, a government minister who organises government business in the House of Commons.
Legitimacy - When a ruler or institution has the right to lead or rule.
Home secretary - In Britain, they are responsible for national security, immigration and policing.
House of Commons meltdown over Gaza vote

Glossary
Speaker - In the UK, an MP who is chosen to keep order during debates in the House of Commons and chose which MPs can speak.
House of Commons - The democratically elected house of the UK Parliament. It consists of 650 Members of Parliament.
Sketch writer - In the UK, writers who make "verbal cartoons" about Parliament for newspapers.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Conservatives - A traditionally right-wing or centre right political party in the UK. Members are sometimes called Tories.
parliament - An assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws.
Scottish National Party - A political party founded in 1934 that wishes to ultimately make Scotland independent. It is the largest party in Scotland.
Motions - Formal proposals for discussion.
Amendments - Minor changes to approve a piece of writing or proposed law, for example.
Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.
Leader of the House - In the UK, a government minister who organises government business in the House of Commons.
Legitimacy - When a ruler or institution has the right to lead or rule.
Home secretary - In Britain, they are responsible for national security, immigration and policing.