KEIR Starmer's claims not to have pressured the Speaker into changing parliamentary rules to prevent a Labour rebellion over a Gaza ceasefire are like "me denying that I’m a bald man", Stephen Flynn has said.
The SNP Westminster leader also said he had been left “disheartened” by the Speaker’s decision to reject an SNP application to hold a fresh debate on Gaza as he spoke to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme on Tuesday.
It comes after the SNP’s opposition day descended into a “farce” last week after the Speaker broke with convention to allow a Labour amendment to be brought forward, scuppering any chance for the SNP to have a formal vote on their motion calling for a ceasefire.
Speaking to the BBC, Flynn said he was “disheartened” not only by Monday’s decision but by “everything that has happened over the last two weeks”.
“The SNP two weeks ago effectively put forward in the public domain what we intended to do in relation to the situation in Gaza, to call for that immediate ceasefire and recognise the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he said.
READ MORE: Nova Innovation CEO in renewables warning to Scottish Government
He added that part of him was “delighted” as the SNP “dragged the Labour Party to support a ceasefire” but that he wanted the motion to vote on his own party’s proposal.
“Sir Lindsay Hoyle, he denied us that opportunity. He broke the rules,” Flynn added before explaining the next debate would have been on “tangible next steps,” including discussions on stopping arms sales to Israel.
It was then put to the MP that although the debate would not go ahead, there will be a Government statement on the situation in Gaza.
He said: “I’m sure I don’t need to explain to yourself or indeed to the many listeners that you have that there’s a big difference between a question and answer session which is what we’re going to have today and a debate and a vote.
“A vote would set in chain a meaningful vote in order to mandate the UK Government to vote for an immediate ceasefire at the United Nations.”
He added that a minister would answer questions “that would last about 30 seconds” and that the replies may be even shorter than this.
Flynn continued to say that some had said he “jumped the gun” when he said Hoyle’s position was no longer tenable but that he now felt “almost vindicated” after he turned his back on the possibility of another debate.
More than 80 MPs have now signed a motion of no confidence in the Speaker.
The MP then spoke about the allegations that Keir Starmer had “bullied” the Speaker (above) into selecting Labour’s amendment.
When it was put to the SNP’s Westminster leader that the Labour leader has so far denied these allegations, he replied: “Well indeed that’s like me denying that I’m a bald man. It would defy reality and logic.
READ MORE: Nova Innovation CEO in renewables warning to Scottish Government
“Everyone on Westminster estate knows what happened last week. The reality is the Speaker was unduly influenced by the leader of the Labour Party and as a result he subsequently lied to the SNP because he created a complete mess, a circus.”
He added that Westminster had taken an issue of 30,000 people who have been killed in Gaza and “turned it into a discussion about Westminster because that’s what Westminster does”.
Flynn's reaction was praised on social media, with one user calling it "superb" and another saying it was their "first laff of the day".
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel