LABOUR MP Harriet Harman has said her party could not back the SNP’s ceasefire motion on Gaza because it “condemned Israelis for what they describe as collective punishment”.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, she admitted the House of Commons debate last week had been a “shambles” and suggested that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should now bring the party leaders together to work together on the issue.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle broke with convention during the SNP Opposition Day debate last week to allow a Labour amendment to be brought forward, scuppering any chance for the SNP to have a formal vote on their motion calling for an immediate ceasefire.
He offered an emergency debate following an apology, but then rejected an application by the SNP to hold one on a Gaza ceasefire.
READ MORE: SNP and Tories 'look to oust Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker'
Harman was asked by GMB host Susanna Reid to outline the issue that meant Labour could not back the SNP motion last week and that “led to the shambles” in the House of Commons.
She said: “Well obviously it did end up as a shambles, but there was a difference, there was three propositions, the government proposition, Labour’s proposition and the SNP’s proposition.”
Reid pointed out it was on an SNP Opposition Debate day, and asked her again why Labour MPs could not back the SNP proposition.
Harman said: “Well normally you have two propositions and the Speaker accepted the argument it would be a good idea to have three.
"He’s now said he made a mistake and it should have been only two, but actually when the Speaker makes a decision and these things are in his discretion, sometimes a party will win and sometimes they’ll lose, sometimes they’ll get it right, sometimes they’ll on reflection think he has got it wrong.
READ MORE: New SNP Gaza ceasefire motion to propose 'concrete actions'
“But there wasn’t any excuse for the government to say right you are not going to vote for our own motion and we are walking out.”
Reid interrupted her to again ask why Labour “didn’t just vote” for the SNP’s motion on an immediate ceasefire.
Harman responded: “Because there were certain differences in our motions – our motion wanted to absolutely condemn the terrorism and call for the hostage release, their motion had condemning Israelis for what they describe as collective punishment.”
She added: “But I think what you have got is a very important point, which is actually if you look at the three motions - the government proposition our proposition and the SNP - there was an awful lot which is the same.
“And of the things which I think Rishi Sunak could still do is he needs to get the party leaders in and say basically, most of us although there is a difference in emphasis, we are all on the same side here.
“I’m going to give you all the briefings that I get from the Foreign Office and everything and let’s actually work together on this because actually - to quote our MP that was killed Jo Cox - there is more in common than divides us on this.”
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