ANAS Sarwar is “kidding himself on” if he thinks Labour can claim to be ending division in politics after chaos in the House of Commons sparked by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, an SNP minister has said.
The Scottish Labour group leader came under fire after he issued a statement claiming that “disgraceful behaviour from both the SNP and Conservatives” was to blame for the “farce” at Westminster on Wednesday.
MPs walked out of the chamber and have been calling for Hoyle to resign after he decided to ignore official advice and break “long-established convention” – a key pillar of the UK’s uncodified constitution – to allow a Labour amendment on an SNP opposition-day motion.
Hoyle’s move, which came after he met with Keir Starmer, allowed Labour to avoid what was set to be a sizeable rebellion and meant the SNP’s motion was never even put to a vote. SNP Westminster group leader Stephen Flynn has accused the pair of having “colluded” as part of a “stitch-up”.
Amidst the chaos, deputy speaker Rosie Winterton ruled that Labour’s motion on a Gaza ceasefire passed without opposition – a decision which sparked further outrage in the Commons.
Former leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was “inconceivable” that anyone hearing the noise would have concluded, as Winterton did, that Labour’s motion was not being opposed.
Labour MPs including Ian Murray have claimed their Gaza motion passed 'unopposed' despite no vote being held...
— The National (@ScotNational) February 22, 2024
Here is how it was passed amid chaos in the Commons 👀 pic.twitter.com/i0YWVZxU28
Scottish Labour figures were criticised on social media after trying to pin the blame for the chaos on the SNP, and celebrating their motion passing “unopposed”.
Sarwar issued a statement noting that his party’s motion had passed. It went on: “Labour expected that all those who wanted to see the fighting stop would want to maximise the number of MPs voting for an immediate ceasefire.
READ MORE: The full list of MPs who have signed the no confidence motion in Lindsay Hoyle
“Unfortunately, disgraceful behaviour from both the SNP and the Conservatives has seen what could have been a moment of unity in the House of Commons, on an issue of such importance, descend into farce.
“It could not be clearer that only Labour are capable of ending the politics of division, and delivering serious government when it is so clearly needed.”
Responding, SNP minister Christina McKelvie said the Scottish Labour MSP’s statement was “cognitive dissonance”.
This 👇 is what is called cognitive dissonance, if Anas thinks Labour comes out of this with any integrity then he is kidding himself on. #CeasefireNow https://t.co/MxRfHR3iBJ
— Christina McKelvie (@ChristinaSNP) February 21, 2024
She added: “If Anas thinks Labour comes out of this with any integrity then he is kidding himself on.”
Former SNP MSP Sandra White commented: “You have no shame using the killing of thousand of people to score political points. Shame on you and the Labour Party.”
University of Strathclyde professor Tanja Bueltmann wrote: “I really cannot overstate how shameful I think this statement is.
“The *only* reason there even was a motion was the SNP using its opposition day for it. And the *only* reason we ended up with chaos is that Labour didn’t want to back that motion even though it’s the stronger one.”
Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray (below) also issued a statement, saying: “This is an important motion. The motion passed unopposed.
“I've said all week that you need to do the maths to get such a motion passed. The SNP wanted to simply embarrass Labour but their working with the Tories backfired when the Tories stitched them up.”
In a thread shared by Murray, Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant argued: “Given the seriousness of the debate, the Speaker decided that he wanted all MPs to be able to vote on a motion that they fully supported.
“That’s why unusually he allowed a process which would’ve meant a vote on the Labour amendment, followed by the SNP motion.”
READ MORE: 'Circus': SNP MPs demand Speaker resigns after plunging Westminster into chaos
Responding, University of Aberdeen law lecturer Scott Styles said: “Don’t try and make [a] self preservation pact between Starmer and Hoyle into some noble principle.
“Starmer wanted out of SNP motion so he told Hoyle he would not be Speaker in [the] next Parliament and Hoyle complied.
“But Speaker is supposed to be independent and that is gone and Hoyle must go.”
BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt had reported “senior Labour figures” had said that Hoyle had been “left in no doubt” that the party would force him out of the Speaker’s chair after an election if he did not select their amendment.
Both Labour and Winterton strongly denied the reports.
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