Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is under renewed criticism this afternoon after failing to grant Diane Abbott a question at PMQs, despite the MP standing up over 40 times.
The independent MP was thrust into the limelight this week after a Tory donor said she made him want to “hate all black women”.
Despite wearing an eye-catching bright red jacket and ‘bobbing’ for a question over 46 times during the 30-minute session, Sir Lindsay failed to call the suspended Labour MP.
The Speaker is now under fire once again, just weeks after dozens of MPs called on him to resign for fixing House of Commons rules in Labour’s favour.
Responding to her snubbing, Ms Abbott said: “I don’t know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving. But it is not the interests of the Commons or democracy”.
Labour MP Rosie Duffield said it was “extremely uncomfortable to witness” her being ignored, and demanded to know why she hadn’t been selected to speak “while others were speaking about her”.
Fellow Labour MP Stella Creasy said: “Right now Diane Abbott is standing to ask a question in Prime Ministers Questions as her safety is debated by others.
“Something very wrong if her voice isn’t heard today…”
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who has backed the motion of no confidence in Sir Lindsay after the Gaza debate scandal, said his decision not to call Ms Abbott was “outrageously bad” and “unforgivable”.
He told Andrew Marr this afternoon that Sir Lindsay “has lost control of the Chamber… today was a step too far”.
An anonymous female Tory minister told Sky News: “You’ve got two men [Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer] arguing about racism and misogyny against a black woman and he doesn’t call her – it’s disgraceful. He should have called her”.
Defending Sir Lindsay’s actions at PMQs, his spokesman argued that he “must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness.”
“This takes place within a limited time frame, with the Chair prioritising Members who are already listed on the Order Paper.
“This week – as is often the case – there was not enough time to call all Members who wanted to ask a question.”
Today’s PMQs ballot saw 11 opposition members drawn, compared to just four Tories, giving little scope to the Speaker to call further Labour MPs.
While the motion of no confidence in Sir Lindsay hasn’t gained any new signatures as a result of today’s row, the Express can reveal the list of MPs saying he should go has fallen by one.
Lee Anderson withdrew his signature today, just days after joining Reform UK. He declined to say why.
93 MPs have backed Tory MPs’ William Wragg’s call for Sir Lindsay to quit.
