A Scottish MP has demanded an investigation into Sir Keir Starmer by the House of Commons’ Privileges Committee, after the Labour leader dodged key questions about his role in the Speaker changing Commons rules on Wednesday.
Neale Hanvey, an Alba Party MP, wrote to Harriet Harman last night requesting an urgent investigation into the ongoing allegations of political interference between the Speaker and Labour.
The news is the latest development in a scandal that has now seen 67 MPs sign an Early Day Motion voicing no confidence in Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
In Mr Hanvey’s letter, he notes the widespread reports both in the media and the Commons itself of “unwarranted and unacceptable pressure on the Speaker of the House for political purposes”.
“It has been alleged that this course of conduct was pursued to ensure that the Labour amendment to the SNP motion for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was given priority as the Leader of the Opposition sought to prevent his members voting against the Labour Party whip.”
Mr Hanvey asks the Privileges Committee to initiate and “urgent and rapid” investigation into these allegations, and specifically focuses on whether Sir Keir Starmer’s actions constituted a contempt of the House.
The Privileges Committee was the body responsible for ousting Boris Johnson as an MP after they concluded he lied to the Commons about Partygate.
Loyalists of Mr Johnson accused Ms Harman of political bias from the get-go, having already criticised Mr Johnson’s statements on parties in No. 10 during lockdown.
Yesterday Sir Keir dodged two simple questions about his role in Speaker-gate, but denied personally threatening him.
It was alleged on Wednesday that Sir Keir, or other Labour representatives, warned Sir Lindsay Hoyle that he would lose Labour’s backing as Speaker after the election if he didn’t break Commons rules to allow for a vote on Labour’s Gaza amendment.
The concession by the Speaker, breaking with centuries of Commons precedent and going against warnings from his most senior constitutional advisor, sparked hours of uproar, leading to a walkout by SNP and Tory MPs.
Yesterday Sir Keir told broadcasters that he “absolutely” did not threaten Sir Lindsay during his discussions ahead of his lunchtime announcement.
However he notably dodged two crucial follow-up questions when asked by Sky News.
Sir Keir refused to guarantee that no Labour MP warned Sir Lindsay that he could lose Labour’s support to continue as speaker if he didn’t select Labour’s amendment.
He also refused to spell out precisely what he said during his own meeting with the Speaker, claiming he “simply urged the Speaker to ensure the debate could be as broad as possible”.
Allegations were made by MPs about the role of Sue Gray in Wednesday’s drama, however a furious Sir Lindsay Hoyle denied having met her.
Pressure appeared to shift from the Speaker to Sir Keir Starmer yesterday after Penny Mordaunt led the Tory charge against the Labour leader.
She told the Commons that Sir Keir had once again proved he is “not fit to lead Britain”, accusing him of putting “the interests of the Labour Party before the interests of the British people”.
Ms Mordaunt added: “It’s the Labour leader that doesn’t get Britain and the past week has shown that he is not fit to lead it”.
“We have seen into the heart of Labour’s leadership. Nothing is more important than the interests of the Labour Party.
“The Labour Party before principle, the Labour Party before individual rights, the Labour Party before the reputation and honour of the decent man that sits in Speaker’s chair.”
