A NEW bid to have Keir Starmer investigated for his handling of the SNP ’s vote on a ceasefire in Gaza last month has been launched by MPs.
According to The Times, an early day motion was tabled by Tory MP William Wragg on Tuesday afternoon.
It calls on the Privileges Committee to investigate “whether undue pressure was placed on Mr Speaker in relation to the decision on selection and calling of amendments”.
So far, it has 58 signatories including Tory MP Graham Brady and several SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs.
The Speaker Lindsay Hoyle faced calls to resign over his handling of the SNP’s vote.
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Hoyle broke with parliamentary convention and allowed a debate on a Labour amendment during an SNP Opposition Day call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
It ultimately resulted in the SNP’s motion not being voted on, with many MPs walking out in disgust at the breaking of parliamentary convention to the apparent benefit of the Labour Party.
Following the furore it was reported that Starmer pressured Hoyle into selecting Labour’s amendment – although the party has denied these claims as “untrue”.
A previous attempt to have the Privileges Committee investigate failed.
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However, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt is likely to be sympathetic to the motion and has reportedly asked permission from Downing Street to table a similar motion that would result in Starmer being referred to the Privileges Committee.
It comes as the UK Government faces pressure to stop arms sales to Israel following the passing of a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
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