In a significant political development on 2024-02-21, the UK government announced its decision to not participate in the vote on the Gaza ceasefire motion. This decision came after Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt criticized Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for his role in selecting amendments for debate, accusing him of undermining the confidence of the Commons. The government initially planned to table its own amendment to the SNP's Gaza ceasefire motion on 2024-02-20 but later withdrew, with Mordaunt stating that the government would play no further part in the decision-making process of the House on this matter. This move has been interpreted as a boycott of the vote due to Hoyle's earlier decision, which Mordaunt claimed had escalated tensions in parliament on 2024-02-21. The situation was further complicated by internal Tory opposition to the government's stance on Israel's 'humanitarian pause' motion, with multiple Tory MPs reportedly inclined to support Labour's full ceasefire motion on 2024-02-22, indicating a lack of votes for the government's amendment.
"Perhaps she might like to reflect on the damage her party has done to the office of the Speaker" Leader of the House of Commons @PennyMordaunt attacks Labour for the events that unfolded in the Commons yesterday Politics Hub ➡️ https://t.co/PzaihDen1C 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube https://t.co/loATWsPwJu
"Perhaps she might like to reflect on the damage her party has done to the office of the Speaker" Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt responds to Lucy Powell and attacks Labour's role in the Gaza vote chaos Follow live https://t.co/Gsd2mpKqT7 https://t.co/fHm8jPLjS2
Multiple Tory MPs say Penny Mordaunt pulled tonight's amendment because govt did not have votes to support Israel 'humanitarian pause' motion. Rumour is that too many Tories had told Whips they were minded to back the Labour motion in favour of full fat ceasefire...
💥 Commons leader Penny Mordaunt just now in the chamber on the Gaza debate: “Regrettably Mr Speaker has inserted himself into the row and undermined the confidence of this House in being able to rely on its long established standing orders to govern its debates…”
"The government will play no further part in the decision this House takes on proceedings," Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt tells the Commons after criticising Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's role selecting amendments Follow Gaza ceasefire vote live https://t.co/njQaRnrqgy https://t.co/qKfyWvkVkj
Penny Mordaunt says the govt is pulling its amendment and will play no part in tonight's votes. She says the Speaker has "regrettably" been dragged into Labour's internal political row on Israel-Gaza. The Labour benches look incensed at this suggestion.
Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt accuses the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle of undermining "the confidence" of the Commons. She says the Government will not be participating in the ceasefire vote this evening.
Penny Mordaunt announces govt will effectively boycott tonight’s votes - because of Lindsay Hoyle’s decision earlier. She says Holye’s decision has raised temperatures in parliament. Big move against the Speaker by the govt.
Tory sources say the govt is likely to table its own amendment tonight to the SNP's Gaza ceasefire motion. Some Westminster-watchers believe this would mean the chance of Labour's amendment being picked by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is diminshed.