Gaza Ceasefire Vote Has Triggered Unusual Approach To "Outdated" Commons Rules

The rules and procedures around opposition days in the House of Commons have opened up the row over an expected Gaza ceasefire vote later today, a parliamentary expert has said.

Alice Lilly, a senior researcher at the Institute for Government said that the Speaker had made a "controversial decision" by permitting both Conservative and Labour amendments to the SNP's opposition day motion to be discussed. 

She told PoliticsHome that usually, the combination of a slightly different set of procedures to Commons business and the current parliamentary maths, leave parties “trying to figure out how they can use this procedure to try and get what they want”, potentially at the expense of others in the Commons.

Labour leader Keir Starmer seems to have swerved the possibility of a rebellion from his own backbenches, thanks to speaker Lindsay Hoyle permitting the party's amendment to the SNP's opposition day motion, as well as that laid by the government. 

Hoyle sparked fury among SNP and Conservative MPs when he announced on Wednesday afternoon that both amendments would be considered. 

He told the House that "this is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high in the House, in the nation, and in the world. 

"I think it's important on this occasion that this House is able to consider the widest possible range of options." 

Given precedent, it had been thought that the government's decsision to lay an  amendment to the SNP’s opposition day motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, could have prevent Labour's own amendment for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” from being discussed. 

Hoyle said that the precedent "reflects an outdated approach". Speaking after the decision, Lilly said that it was "clearly a controversial