THE SNP have accused the Westminster system of "failing the people of Gaza" after the Speaker denied the party an emergency debate on calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Lindsay Hoyle rejected the party's application for a fresh debate on the issue on Monday afternoon, despite explicitly offering one after his decision to allow a Labour amendment during the SNP's opposition day debate meant there was no formal vote held on the SNP's motion.
The Speaker's decision came after he met with UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, who reportedly pressed him to allow the amendment and stave off a rebellion on the Labour benches.
READ MORE: What did the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle do ... and what happens next?
And, a Labour MP later admitted that he deliberately wrecked the SNP's motion by filibustering and buying his leader time.
Hoyle told MPs that one of the reasons he denied the request was the UK Government are set to make a statement on the Middle East on Tuesday.
It comes after Starmer refused to say if he would work with the SNP on a fresh motion, following calls from SNP Westminster Stephen Flynn for opposition parties to work together.
The SNP tabled a new motion for an emergency debate so the UK Parliament could vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and push the UK Government to take "concrete steps" to help make a ceasefire happen.
Following Hoyle's decision, a furious Flynn said: "Yet again, Westminster is failing the people of Gaza by blocking a vote on the urgent action the UK Government must take to help make an immediate ceasefire happen.
"For months, the UK parliament has blocked SNP calls for an immediate ceasefire - and now it's blocking a vote on the concrete actions the UK Government must pursue to make an immediate ceasefire more likely.
"The UK is a key ally and defence trading partner of Israel and the United States, and a permanent member of the UN security council. It is not a powerless spectator - and Parliament has a moral duty to ensure the UK government is doing everything it can."
The SNP MP added that around 30,000 Palestinians, including women and children, had been killed "while Westminster has dithered and delayed".
"The UK's strategy of equivocation has failed," he added.
READ MORE: Podcast: Inside the Speaker Gaza ceasefire row with SNP chief whip
"If the debate in Westminster is to be anything other than meaningless, it's essential that warm words on an immediate ceasefire are backed up with concrete action - specific, practical tangible measures.
"I urge Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to work with us to ensure Parliament can mandate the UK government to pull every lever to help secure an immediate ceasefire, and lasting peace through a two state solution.
"Finally, it's regrettable that this inexplicable decision will further erode trust in the Speaker. The Speaker broke the rules last week - and this week he has broken his word. How can MPs have any trust in the Speaker when he makes a public commitment one minute, only to rip it up the next.
"If 30,000 dead Palestinians aren't worthy of an emergency debate - what is?"
The National contributor Owen Jones said of Hoyle's block on a new debate: "Why did the Speaker - who Labour sources boasted they'd blackmailed - offer the SNP a new debate, and then suddenly not allow it?
"How is this anything other than an establishment stitch-up?"
Following the decision, more MPs signed an Early Day Motion calling for a vote of no confidence in Hoyle as Speaker.
Including, SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes, who wrote: "We all make mistakes and the Speaker had the opportunity to offset it today; the Speaker chose not to, therefore I have informed them that I have signed the Early Day Motion 412 of no confidence."
Comedian Frankie Boyle added: "It will obviously only fuel protests if you shut down legitimate debate in Parliament. A large percentage of the country can say that their views aren’t being taken into consideration."
Read the SNP's full emergency debate motion below:
That this House officially reaffirms its position, as of 21st February 2024, to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel; further reaffirms its horror at the October 7th 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza; demands the release of all hostages taken by Hamas; condemns any military assault on the 1.5 million refugees sheltering in Rafah; further demands the Government immediately halts all transfers of military equipment and technology, including components, to Israel, and to suspend the issuing of new licences; calls on the international community to ensure the rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; further calls for an end to settlement expansion and violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures; and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution; recognises that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour; instructs the Government to vote for an immediate ceasefire, or wording with that effect, during the next relevant motion brought before the United Nations Security Council.
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