The chaotic debate over a cease-fire in Gaza caused turmoil in Britain’s Parliament, with calls for the speaker to resign and concerns about lawmakers’ safety. After a lengthy debate, the Conservatives and the SNP abstained from voting, allowing Labour to pass a nonbinding motion for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire uncontested. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle faced over 50 no-confidence letters. Rising tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict and a surge in antisemitic incidents in the UK heightened the stakes.
The Gaza issue became a political weapon in Parliament, with some lawmakers feeling pressured to vote a certain way for safety reasons. Conservative Charles Walker warned of the dangers of this trend. The debate unfolded when the SNP proposed a cease-fire motion emphasizing Israel’s actions, countered by Labour’s amendment urging Israel to prevent future attacks. The government’s amendment called for an immediate humanitarian pause.
Hoyle’s attempt to allow separate votes on all motions backfired when the government withdrew its proposal, leading the SNP to follow suit. Hoyle apologized for the confusion but defended his decision to ensure all positions were heard amid threats and intimidation. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt blamed Labour for the chaos, emphasizing the need to resist extremism and intimidation.
The Institute for Government criticized politicians on all sides for allowing the debate to descend into chaos, accusing them of political game-playing. The government and SNP were accused of exploiting Labour’s internal divisions on Gaza policy. Labour, torn between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian pressures, recently shifted to support an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
The political maneuvering during a conflict claiming thousands of lives tarnished Parliament’s reputation, according to Hannah White of the Institute for Government.
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