Order, order

It was a Wednesday Sir Lindsay Hoyle will want to forget.

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.

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. The government pulled out of the debate. The SNP were enraged at not being able to vote for their original motion.

Hoyle now faces calls to resign. His critics argue that his action challenged the rules. Parliament operates through strict conventionsA way in which something is usually done..² Breaking one opens the door for more rule-breaking.

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.

SNP WestminsterAn area of London known for its government buildings and parliament. leader Stephen Flynn called it "a Westminster circus". If Parliament is seen as a joke, its legitimacyWhen a ruler or institution has the right to lead or rule. is at risk.

Yet some think the drama is overstated. Hoyle has said he wanted MPs to hear the "widest possible range of options".³ 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.