UK Lawmaker Apologizes After Gaza Ceasefire Debate Descends Into Chaos

The House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle apologized after the Commons descended into chaos, with government and Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs walking out of the chamber protesting his handling of the Gaza ceasefire debate.

MPs voted unanimously for a Labour motion demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, but only after Hoyle overturned years of parliamentary precedent to allow the party to bring its motion to a vote.

Hoyle Apologizes After Gaza Ceasefire Debate

(Photo : Hannah Mckay - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons addresses members of parliament, during a state visit by South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol (not pictured) on November 21, 2023 in London, England. King Charles is hosting Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on a state visit from November 21-23. It is the second incoming state visit hosted by the King during his reign.

Lawmakers from the ruling Conservatives and the opposition SNP attempted to hold the proceedings privately while exiting the debating chamber in protest.

Hoyle eventually apologized and said he had decided to allow lawmakers to vote on a range of views because he was concerned about the security of the MPs after several had received threats of violence over their stance on the war.

"It is regrettable, and I apologize for the decision," he told parliament. "I did not want it to end like this."

Labour, tipped to win a national election expected later this year, has been deeply embroiled in an internal battle over its policy towards the Middle East conflict since the October 7 attack by Hamas that sparked Israel's invasion of Gaza.

The SNP initiated the debate in parliament, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Labour and the Conservatives both supported Israel while expressing concern over its actions in Gaza, then proposed amendments with various conditions, which they said were necessary before there should be a pause in fighting.

In a usual move, Hoyle chose both amendments for a vote, breaking the rule whereby one opposition party cannot change another's motion. Usually, only the government amendment would be selected.

Furthermore, some lawmakers mocked Hoyle when he declared his decision. Hoyle, a former Labour MP, was accused by one member of parliament of causing a "constitutional crisis."

Penny Mordaunt, the government's Leader of the House of Commons, said that Hoyle had undermined parliament and that the government was ending the proceedings.

Thousands of Pro-Palestinian Protest in London

Tens of thousands of people participated in a pro-Palestinian march in central London. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

Saturday's march was the first protest to approach the Israeli embassy in west London following a silent demonstration in October. Some 1,500 police officers were sent to handle the protest. Demonstrators said it was one of the busiest marches they have attended.

Furthermore, five people were arrested in one incident on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. According to the police, seven more were taken into custody.

One person was arrested on suspicion of supporting a banned organization and another for obstruction. Two were arrested on suspicion of refusing to take off a face covering when asked, and three more for allegedly using abusive language and behavior or displaying offensive or likely to incite racial hatred materials.