SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn accused Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle of having “broken his word” after he rejected a bid for an emergency debate on a Gaza ceasefire.
Sir Lindsay denied the emergency debate because the Government is set to make a statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict tomorrow.
Mr Flynn said: “Last week the Speaker of the House of Commons broke the rules, this week he has broken his word.
“The SNP has sought to act in good faith to ensure that we can move this debate forward and tried to have a discussion today on ending arms sales to Israel and ensuring the UK uses its voice in the United Nations in favour of an immediate ceasefire.
“The fact that that has been blocked is outrageous, it flies in the face of what we were told would happen last Thursday. I think the public will be as outraged as I am.”
Mr Flynn said the decision to deny the SNP the debate called into question” the trust placed in Sir Lindsay as Commons Speaker.
He said: “The public aren’t zipped up the back, they understand that a statement means you get questions and answers, not a debate and a vote.
“What we’ve sought to do is act in good faith and listen to the words of the Speaker and act upon those words.”
He added: “It calls into question the wider Westminster system and the trust that we all place in the person at the heart of that, which is the Speaker of the House of Commons.
“I would imagine that parliamentarians across the chamber will be deeply concerned about the fact that the Speaker of the House of Commons has made a clear and unambiguous statement, stating that he would have a debate and a vote in relation to the situation in Gaza, and that he has instead opted not to do that.”
Sir Lindsay had offered the SNP an opportunity to hold a fresh vote following dramatic scenes in the Commons last Wednesday.
Chaos broke out when the Commons Speaker ignored official advice to to change the rules around an SNP-led Gaza ceasefire debate.
By allowing Labour’s preferred wording on a ceasefire to take priority over the more hardline nationalist version, Sir Lindsay effectively put an end to a mass rebellion in Labour’s ranks.
Speaking today, Sir Lindsay said: “In determining whether a matter is proper to be discussed under standing order (24) I must have regard to two criteria.
“Firstly, the extent to which it concerns the administrative responsibilities of ministers of the Crown or could come within the scope of the ministerial action. I am satisfied that that matter does not relate to the areas of ministerial responsibility and falls within the scope of the ministerial action.
“Secondly, in determining whether a matter is urgent I must have regard to the probability of the matter being brought before the House in time by other means. The House came to a resolution on this matter on Wednesday last week.
“Further, I understand the Government is ready to make a relevant statement tomorrow so there is a very imminent opportunity for this important matter to come before the House.
“That is why I have decided the application for an emergency debate should not proceed. That decision, of course, does not mean that members cannot apply for a debate at a later stage when circumstances might have changed.
“Whilst the decision is mine to take, I have consulted the deputies on this matter and the clerks and we have agreed on this approach.”
