23 February 2024 , 09:59
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Home Secretary James Cleverly has firmly backed Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle amid criticism of his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate.
The senior Cabinet minister told Sky News on Friday: "I think the Speaker has done a fantastic job. I think he's been a breath of fresh air compared with his predecessor.
"He made a mistake. He's apologised for the mistake. My view is that I'm supportive of him." Mr Cleverly said it was his personal view because the selection of the Speaker is "House business" rather than for Government ministers to decide.
Sir Lindsay is facing continued pressure to step down as Commons Speaker after almost 70 MPs called for him to go after he selected a Labour amendment to an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Some 67 MPs, more than a tenth of the Commons, have signed a motion proposed by senior Conservative William Wragg expressing no confidence in the Speaker over his handling of the debate on Wednesday.
Sir Lindsay has apologised for his handling of the debate and offered an emergency debate on the SNP's motion calling for a ceasefire. But criticism from SNP and Tory MPs has continued, with the Prime Minister describing his decisions as "very concerning".
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If further signatures are added to Mr Wragg's motion, Sir Lindsay will face additional pressure to go. There is no formal procedure for removing a speaker, but in 2009 Michael Martin resigned from the post after it became clear he had lost the confidence of MPs across the Commons.
Sir Lindsay's explanation that he was motivated by concern about MPs' security has sparked further debate about the impact of threats and intimidation around the work of Parliament.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman today said the events of Wednesday had "undermined the integrity of Parliament", adding: "The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the antisemites are in charge now."
"I may have been sacked because I spoke out against the appeasement of Islamists, but I would do it again because we need to wake up to what we are sleep-walking into: a ghettoised society where free expression and British values are diluted. Where sharia law, the Islamist mob and antisemites take over communities," she wrote in the Telegraph. "We need to overcome the fear of being labelled Islamophobic and speak truthfully."
Some Conservatives have been reluctant to blame the Speaker for Wednesday's events, instead pointing the finger at Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Braverman said the Labour leader had "bowed to the mob" and made a "grubby backroom deal".
She said: "The mask has slipped: in hock to the Islamists, he is responsible for one of the most shameful days of our democracy. By effectively taking the Speaker hostage, he brought Parliament into disrepute. This is the behaviour of tyrants. Just imagine what Starmer would do as Prime Minister."
Mr Starmer has denied threatening the Speaker, insisting he "simply urged" him to have "the broadest possible debate" by putting a number of options in front of MPs.