AN SNP MP has hit out at the lack of representation for his party on Robert Peston’s ITV show – despite the SNP's Gaza ceasefire motion being a key topic of debate.
Gavin Newlands, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire, took to Twitter/X on Monday evening to criticise the show for failing to provide any SNP representation “over the last two weeks”.
It comes as the fallout from the chaos in the Commons during last week’s SNP opposition day debate on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has now rejected an application by the SNP to hold a fresh debate on a Gaza ceasefire, despite previously offering one.
Writing on Twitter/X, Newlands said: “So just to be clear, over the last two weeks, Robert @Peston has had four Tory MPs, two Labour MPs and a [Labour] lord on to discuss the #ceasefireNOW motion, and the fallout from it that the SNP brought to the House.
“@itvpeston presumably thought we weren’t needed to discuss our reasoning.”
READ MORE: Stephen Flynn has perfect response to Keir Starmer over Speaker row
The last two Peston programmes were broadcast on February 26 and February 21 respectively and included the following guests:
- Transport Secretary Mark Harper
- Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting
- Writer Jon Ronson
- Labour MP Jess Phillips
- Tory MP Tobias Ellwood
- Development minister Andrew Mitchell
- Deborah Meaden
- Businessman Christopher Steale
- Ex-Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock
- Tory MP Robert Buckland
SNP MP Anne McLaughlin was also among those to hit out, writing on Twitter/X: “British establishment will always close ranks. Always.”
Elsewhere, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said the Commons Speaker “effectively lied” to MPs and the public over the holding of a debate on Gaza.
Following the news that the request for the debate was turned down, the MP told the BBC: “Unfortunately, the Speaker of the House of Commons (has) broken the rules and now broke his word and effectively lied, not just to SNP MPs but the entire parliamentary chamber and indeed the public last Thursday.
“I don’t think anyone can be in a position where they don’t find that deeply, deeply challenging given the Speaker of the House of Commons is there to effectively ensure that democracy runs smoothly on these isles.”
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