Philip Davies blasts Speaker's 'terrible decision' in Gaza row: 'Won't give in to the baying mob'

Philip Davies blasts Speaker's 'terrible decision' in Gaza row: 'Won't give in to the baying mob'

WATCH NOW: Philip Davies MP reacts to Wednesday's Commons chaos

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 22/02/2024

- 11:21

Updated: 22/02/2024

- 11:33

Sir Lindsay Hoyle apologised after his decision to table both amendments sent the Commons into chaos

Conservative MP Philip Davies has criticised Sir Lindsay Hoyle as pressure mounts on the Commons Speaker to resign.

The House of Commons descended into chaos on Wednesday around a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.


Hoyle allowed a Labour amendment to be put to the House, prompting the Government to pledge to 'play no further part' in proceedings, while the SNP were not able to vote on its original proposal.

The Speaker issued an apology in the Commons as MPs walked out of the chamber and refused to vote on both amendments.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Philip Davies

Philip Davies slams the Speaker's 'terrible decision' in the Commons

Parliament TV / GB News

He told the Chamber: "Clearly today has not shown the House at its best. I’ll reflect on my part. I did not want it to have ended like this. I’ll meet with all the key players of each party."

Hoyle claimed he "regretted" the decision and has "deep sadness" towards how the situation played out.

Reacting to the fallout in the Commons, Conservative MP Philip Davies told GB News that Hoyle made a "terrible decision" and "ignored the rules" of Parliament.

Speaking to hosts Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello, Davies compared the controversial move to a "football referee changing the offside rule".

House of Commons

MPs walked out of the House of Commons as the debate descended into chaos

Parliament TV

Davies said of the Speaker's decision: "He just can't operate like that. It went from being an SNP opposition day to in effect, a Labour opposition day."

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He continued: "I think it's compounded by the fact that we can't have a situation where we are changing the rules in the House of Commons and MPs are voting differently to how they otherwise might because of a baying mob.

"That's the end of democracy when you start having that."

In defence of the Speaker, Davies highlighted his friendship with Sir Lindsay and said he has known him for "many years".

Davies revealed: "I believe him to be a decent, honourable man."

GB News

Philip Davies slammed the 'baying mob' and warned of the 'end of democracy'

GB News

Davies explained: "I think if the Labour Party had gone to him and said, do you know what, we've got a real mess here - if Keir Starmer said I'm going to lose a load of MPs, I need you to do me a favour, I'm 100 per cent certain that Lindsay Hoyle would have said, well that's not my problem.

"But Keir Starmer, it seems, went deliberately and said I'm worried about the safety of MPs here and the security of MPs and lord knows what will happen if we're not allowed to do this.

"And in effect, the implied bit was, if something does happen and you don't select our amendment, it'll be on you."

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