Top Tory told Lindsay Hoyle he would 'unleash hell' in bid to pressure Speaker

22 February 2024 , 16:20

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Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is battling to keep his job (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

The Tory Chief Whip warned Sir Lindsay Hoyle his actions would “unleash hell” as he heaped pressure on him in the hours before a Commons showdown over Gaza.

Simon Hart attempted to stop the Speaker from allowing a vote on a Labour motion calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” that must be observed by “all sides”.

Tory MPs have lined up to accuse Keir Starmer of strong-arming Sir Lindsay Hoyle into making his decision, even though he has categorically denied this. But now it has emerged that behind the scenes Mr Hart was putting pressure on Sir Lindsay not to allow a vote. The Cabinet minister told the Commons Speaker that his actions would “unleash hell” during meetings on Wednesday morning, according to GB News.

On a visit to Sussex today, Mr Starmer rejected Tory claims that he had sought to intimidate Sir Lindsay. The Labour leader said: "I can categorically tell you that I did not threaten the Speaker in any way whatsoever. I simply urged to ensure that we have the broadest possible debate so that actually the most important thing, which is what do we do about the situation in Gaza, could be properly discussed by MPs with a number of options in front of them."

Mr Starmer said Sir Lindsay "did the right thing in making sure the debate was broad" as he denounced SNP and Tory tactics. He added: "The tragedy is the SNP walked off the pitch because they wanted to divide the Labour Party and they couldn't, and the Government walked off the pitch because it thought it was going to lose a vote... We should have had a proper debate and a proper resolution with all three propositions being put to a vote."

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Sir Lindsay today insisted he had been trying to stop more MPs getting attacked as he battled to keep his job. Conservative and SNP MPs are trying to oust him after the debate on a ceasefire in Gaza descended into chaos. More than 60 have demanded that he quit for helping Keir Starmer to dodge a rebellion on the issue.

In Parliament, Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs as he admitted he had made the “wrong decision”. But he said he had decided to break precedent by allowing a vote on Labour’s call for a ceasefire because of fears the party’s MPs would face an angry backlash if he had not done so. The move meant that an SNP motion on the issue was not voted on.

The Speaker told MPs: “I regret it. I apologise to the SNP... I apologise, and I apologise to the House. I made a mistake. We do make mistakes. I own up to mine." He highlighted concerns over the security of MPs who have faced threats over the stance on the Middle East conflict, saying: "I have a duty of care and if my mistake is looking after members, I am guilty."

Referring to the 2021 murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess, he added: “I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists.”

John Stevens