UK Government ministers are in talks about referring Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee amid concerns he coerced Speaker Lindsay Hoyle into breaking with parliamentary convention for his own benefit, according to reports.
Senior Tories are thinking of tabling a motion aimed at having Starmer investigated by the cross-party committee of MPs – which came to public prominence after concluding that Boris Johnson had deliberately misled parliament.
The Labour leader has been accused of threatening Hoyle’s position as Speaker in order to get him to break convention and table a Labour amendment on SNP opposition day, allowing him to avoid a sizeable rebellion among his own MPs.
READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: Don't expect consequences as Labour admit to game-playing on Gaza
Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt reported previously: "Senior Labour figures tell me @CommonsSpeaker was left in no doubt that Labour would bring him down after the General Election unless he called Labour’s Gaza amendment.
"The message was: You will need our votes to be re-elected as Speaker after election, with strong indications this would not be forthcoming if he failed to call the Labour amendment."
Starmer has denied he pressured Hoyle, saying only that he “urged” him to allow the Labour amendment to be debated.
Labour MP Chris Bryant has admitted he was ordered to filibuster ahead of the SNP’s motion being debated, reportedly in order to give Starmer more time to convince the Speaker to accept the Labour amendment.
The Times reported that Penny Mordaunt, the Tory minister serving as Leader of the House of Commons, believed Starmer’s actions amounted to a “breach of privilege”.
According to that paper, UK ministers held talks about tabling a motion seeking to have the Privileges Committee investigate the various claims about Starmer’s actions, including those made to the Newsnight political editor.
The move is said to be one of several under consideration.
Last week, Alba MP and Westminster leader Neale Hanvey wrote to the Privileges Committee asking them to probe the claims about Starmer.
“It has been reported in the media and to the chamber that the Leader of the Opposition and/or those acting on his behalf applied unwarranted and unacceptable pressure on the Speaker of the House for political purposes,” Hanvey wrote.
“In order to reassure the house, I am asking the Committee of Privileges to initiate an urgent and rapid investigation into the allegations set out above, including any and all related matters.”
READ MORE: 'Superb': Stephen Flynn has perfect response to Keir Starmer over Speaker row
Hoyle is facing further pressure after he reneged on an offer of a second debate on a Gaza ceasefire, to make up for the one he plunged into chaos with his decision to allow a Labour amendment.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said the Speaker had “lied” to MPs and the public amid the ongoing row.
At the time of writing, 81 MPs have signed a motion of no confidence in Hoyle.
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