Speaker Under Pressure After Walkout Over Gaza

Chaos broke out in the House of Commons last night as furious MPs walked out in protest at the speaker's handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate. Dozens also signed a vote of no confidence against him.

- ZOE GRUNEWALD, JANE DALTON

Members on both sides left the chamber in anger after Sir Lindsay Hoyle allowed amendments from the government and Labour on the SNP’s motion calling for “an immediate ceasefire”.

This broke convention in which only the government’s amendment should have been debated and voted on.

In a night of extraordinary drama in Westminster, the speaker’s decision prompted howls of protest from MPs and shouts of “bring back Bercow” – referring to his controversial predecessor, John Bercow.

He was then forced to return to the Commons to issue a grovelling apology for the mayhem, which was thwarted by shouts of “resign” from MPs on both sides of the House.

The evening decended into chaos after Sir Lindsay ruled that the Commons should vote first on Labour’s call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” before moving on to the SNP’s original motion, and then finally onto the government’s proposals if either of the first two failed to garner enough support.

Both Tory and SNP MPs walked out, leaving Labour’s amendment to pass unopposed.

Commons Leader and Tory MP Penny Mordaunt accused the speaker of hijacking the debate and undermining the confidence of the House by selecting Labour’s amendment.

She said he had “raised temperatures” and put MPs in a “more difficult position”.