The Commons has gone into meltdown this evening over the Speaker’s handling of the Gaza ceasefire motion, with the Speaker expressing ‘regret’ for the way the debate ended up. SNP and Tory MPs stormed out at one point, and MPs voted on whether to close the chamber to the press and public as part of the row about the selection of two amendments to the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. It was defeated with just 20 MPs voting in favour. The vote was delayed because Tory MPs staged a sit-in in the No lobby.

The motion as amended by Labour was then passed on the nod, without a vote on the SNP motion as originally tabled, but even that is now being disputed. The government had withdrawn its own amendment in protest at the Speaker’s decision. Lindsay Hoyle then made a statement apologising for the decision he had taken earlier in the day, saying he had done what he did because he was worried about the security of members and their families and that he had wanted to ‘ensure they could express their views and all sides of the House could vote’. He told MPs ‘it ended up in the wrong place and I apologise to all and in particular to the SNP’, saying he wanted to meet with everyone involved ‘as soon as possible’.

A lot of members have been worrying that the House looks ridiculous

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn complained that he would take some convincing that the Speaker’s position was not now untenable. Tory MPs are continuing to pursue the allegation that Hoyle met with Sue Gray, Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, this afternoon – something he denied, and that there was pressure from Starmer on the Speaker.

Hoyle tried to defuse the row with his statement at the end, saying he wanted to take the discussion into private meetings with the individuals involved. But those individuals and other MPs are also  furious with deputy speaker Rosie Winterton that they didn’t get a vote at all on the amendment, with Tory MPs complaining that it is ‘disgraceful’ that she did not pick up their opposition to the question. A lot of members have been worrying that the House looks ridiculous and that the public will feel there has been ‘chicanery’ tonight, as well the fact that no members have been able to express their view in a vote.