MPs launch new bid to skewer Keir Starmer over ‘speaker bullying’ row | Politics | News | EUROtoday

MPs from throughout the Commons have launched a brand new marketing campaign to skewer Keir Starmer over his function in final month’s huge row about Parliamentary process and Labour’s Gaza modification.

In February, the Labour chief refused to reply a easy query about whether or not he had threatened Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to make him break historic Commons guidelines in Labour’s favour.

The row got here amid a high-tension SNP debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, sparking uproar amongst each Tories and the SNP as Sir Lindsay broke precedent to permit MPs to vote on a Labour modification to the SNP’s movement.

The row resulted in dozens of MPs signing a petition calling for a vote of no confidence within the Commons Speaker, leaving his authority in tatters.

The following day, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he “absolutely” didn’t threaten the Speaker, however did confess to “of course” have discussions forward of his controversial choice.

However, requested if he may assure that no Labour MP warned Sir Lindsay that he may lose Labour’s help to proceed as Speaker if he didn’t collapse, the Labour chief dodged the query.

This afternoon, 58 MPs have signed a brand new Early Day Motion calling for a Privileges Committee investigation into whether or not “undue pressure” was positioned on the Speaker.

The movement, submitted by senior Conservative MP William Wragg, reads: “This House notes the Speaker’s decision on selection and calling of amendments on 21 February 2024 was not in accordance with the established precedent for Opposition days”.

“And accordingly considers that, notwithstanding the Resolution of this House of 6 February 1978, the matter of whether undue pressure was placed on Mr Speaker in relation to the decision on selection and calling of amendments on 21 February, should be referred to the Committee of Privileges.”

The EDM has already been signed by very influential MPs, together with the chairman of the backbench Tory 1922 Committee, the chief of the SNP Stephen Flynn, and the chief of Plaid Cymru Liz Saville Roberts.

In complete 42 SNP MPs have signed the movement, alongside 14 Tory MPs and one impartial MP.

The transfer, if profitable, would pressure the Committee on Privileges to probe the row, and would turn out to be the panel’s most high-profile investigation because it pressured Boris Johnson out of Parliament for alleged mendacity about Partygate.

It is reported this night that the petition may have the sympathy of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who’s answerable for allocating motions time for debate on the ground of the House.

The Times experiences that Ms Mordaunt has been lobbying No. 10 to permit her to desk an analogous movement that might refer Sir Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee.

This night a Labour supply says: “If the Tories are so attached to procedure, why are they trying to rip it up?”

“This is sheer desperation from Conservatives who will do anything to distract from their own failures and seem to have completely given up governing.”

Tory MP Louie French, who was one of many first MPs to name for a Privileges Committee Investigation into the matter again in February, beforehand warned it was a “huge scandal”.

Mr French mentioned: “Whatever your politics, we cannot have a situation in our democracy where a political leader effectively admits on national TV that he ‘urged’ The Speaker of the Commons to break the rules to suit their party”.