We have no confidence: Scores of MPs demand Speaker goes in vote farce

Fury grows after he allows Starmer off the hook with Labour amendment

- Nicholas Cecil

SIR Lindsay Hoyle was battling to restore his authority in the Commons today after a night of chaos over a Gaza ceasefire vote.

By mid-morning, 57 MPs including senior Tory backbenchers, had signed a motion of no confidence in the Speaker. They included Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs, as well as other executives of the committee, Sir Geoffrey-Clifton Brown and Bob Blackman.

But former defence secretary Ben Wallace intervened to voice his support for Sir Lindsay, tweeting: “I have served under three speakers. Lindsay Hoyle is head and shoulders above the rest. He has my full support.”

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt was due to make a statement at business questions around midday as the number of MPs calling for Sir Lindsay to go was rising. On the early morning media round, health minister Maria Caulfield refused to back him staying in post and said he was in a “difficult position”.

But Ms Mordaunt also faced questions over why the Government suddenly pulled Tory participation in a series of votes on the conflict in the Middle East.