Labour Amendment On Gaza Ceasefire Passes After Chaotic Day In Commons

MPs have passed a Labour amendment calling for an "humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza after a dramatic day in Westminster which saw SNP MPs walk out of the chamber.

The day began with House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle breaking with convention and selecting both Labour and the government’s amendment to the SNP’s opposition day motion for a ceasefire, which proved to be a divisive move. 

In the ensuing chaos, leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt announced that the government would no longer be participating in the vote despite having tabled an amendment of their own. 

But as agitated MPs prepared to head to the voting lobbies, Hoyle was nowhere to be seen. Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn made a point of order three times to ask the deputy speaker Rosie Winterton where Hoyle was, and insisted the SNP's motion should be voted on before Labour's amendment. Earlier it was made clear that if Labour’s amendment passed, the SNP’s original motion would be amended before being voted on.

Outside parliament thousands of people gathered to protest, as public pressure for the UK to call for a ceasefire in Gaza continues to intensify. 

In his third point of order, Flynn eventually asked for the House of Commons to be suspended until Hoyle returned to the chamber – to furious shouts of support from MPs frustrated with Hoyle’s decision. When it became clear Flynn's requests would not be acted upon, the SNP appeared to walk out of the chamber in protest before later returning. 

After multiple points of order from MPs from all parties, which saw Winterton struggle to control MPs as they shouted over each other, a vote was held on whether the house should sit in private – with access to the public and press galleries in the House