Debate on Gaza descends into a war about parliamentary procedure and calls for Sir Lindsay Hoyle to be sacked
MPs were meant to be debating Gaza.
Afterall, over 100 Israelis are still cowering in those cold, dark tunnels – torn from their families and held hostage by Hamas murderers.
While nearly 2 million Palestinians have been left homeless in the bombing campaign that followed those October 7 terror attacks.
But the House of Commons descended into a war of its own – on parliamentary procedure.
The SNP had tabled a motion demanding an “immediate ceasefire”. They preached peace, but the aim was clear: to lay bare divisions in the Labour Party.
Desperate not to suffer another humiliating rebellion over the war, Labour chiefs came up with their own rival motion calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”.
As the clock ticked down to the crunch debate the corridors of Westminster were thick with rumours of plots and double dealing.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was going to tear up the rulebook to give Labour an easy ride and let their motion be voted on, some whispered.
Surely not, others cried out. That would be treason.
Finally, Sir Lindsay arrived in the Chamber just moments before the debate to give his hotly anticipated ruling.
Speaking in his thick Lancashire drawl, he declared: “This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high in the House, in the nation and around the world.
“I think it is important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options.
“I have therefore decided to select amendments in the name of the Prime Minister and the name of the leader of the Opposition.”
The pesky rulebook was “outdated” he declared.
A wave of fury ripped through the Chamber.
Was Sir Lindsay – who is meant to be politically neutral but was a Labour MP before becoming Speaker of the House – abusing his position to help Sir Keir?
Apoplectic, Tory and SNP MPs leapt to their feet as shouts of “shame” rang out.
Tory grandee Sir Desmond Swayne yelled “bring back Bercow” – a reference to Sir Lindsay’s universally unpopular predecessor.
In the world of Parliament, this is about as biting as a putdown gets.
SNP MP David Linden – a scholarly looking chap in specs more reminiscent of a sixth form prefect than the school bully – was raging.
Jumping to his feet he wagged his finger at the Speaker and demanded a “point of order”.
Senior Tory MP William Wragg – a baby-faced stickler for proper procedure – was already drawing up drastic plans to table a no confidence vote in the Speaker.
But the Lancashireman was not for turning and ploughed on with calling the debate.
Outside the Chamber Tory and SNP chiefs – usually arch foes – suddenly found themselves on the same side.
They launched secret talks on getting rid of Sir Lindsay as Speaker.
He may have won this battle. But will they win the war?