Ned Simons is politics news editor for HuffPost UK based in London. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @nedsimons.
Lindsay Hoyle’s position as Commons Speaker is “untenable” and he should be dumped by MPs, Stephen Flynn has declared.
Some 59 Tory and SNP MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in the Speaker, who was forced to come to the Commons to apologise amid chaotic scenes last night.He said: “As I have expressed to you privately prior to proceedings here today, we do not on these benches believe that you can continue in your role as Speaker.Flynn told Hoyle that a vote of no confidence in him should be held “at the earliest possible occasion”.
“I have a lot of respect for Lindsay, but ultimately he made a decision yesterday which was politically partisan and he cannot continue in his role as a neutral chair of the House of Commons.” “I regret it, I apologise to the SNP, and to the House,” he told the Commons. “I made a mistake - we do make mistakes, I own up to mine.”Hoyle insisted he had done so to protect MPs who faced a backlash from pro-Palestine campaigners if they failed to vote for a ceasefire."The details of the things that have been brought to me are absolutely frightening"