MPs from across the Commons have launched a new campaign to skewer Keir Starmer over his role in last month’s enormous row about Parliamentary procedure and Labour’s Gaza amendment.
In February, the Labour leader refused to answer a simple question about whether he had threatened Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to make him break ancient Commons rules in Labour’s favour.
The row came amid a high-tension SNP debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, sparking uproar among both Tories and the SNP as Sir Lindsay broke precedent to allow MPs to vote on a Labour amendment to the SNP’s motion.
The row resulted in dozens of MPs signing a petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the Commons Speaker, leaving his authority in tatters.
The following day, Sir Keir Starmer said he “absolutely” did not threaten the Speaker, but did confess to “of course” have discussions ahead of his controversial decision.
However, asked if he could guarantee that no Labour MP warned Sir Lindsay that he could lose Labour’s support to continue as Speaker if he didn’t cave in, the Labour leader dodged the question.
This afternoon, 58 MPs have signed a new Early Day Motion calling for a Privileges Committee investigation into whether “undue pressure” was placed on the Speaker.
The motion, 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, including the chairman of the backbench Tory 1922 Committee, the leader of the SNP Stephen Flynn, and the leader of Plaid Cymru Liz Saville Roberts.
In total 42 SNP MPs have signed the motion, alongside 14 Tory MPs and one independent MP.
The move, if successful, would force the Committee on Privileges to probe the row, and would become the panel’s most high-profile investigation since it forced Boris Johnson out of Parliament for alleged lying about Partygate.
It is reported this evening that the petition could have the sympathy of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, who is in charge of allocating motions time for debate on the floor of the House.
The Times reports that Ms Mordaunt has been lobbying No. 10 to allow her to table a similar motion that would refer Sir Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee.
This evening a Labour source 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 the first MPs to call for a Privileges Committee Investigation into the matter back in February, previously warned it was a “huge scandal”.
Mr French said: “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”.
