Nigel Farage warned religious sectarianism is now “dominating” British politics following chaotic scenes in the House of Commons yesterday over a Gaza debate.
Chaos erupted after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle upended parliamentary convention by selecting Labour’s bid to amend an SNP motion on the Israel-Hamas war.
Speaking on his GB News show, Mr Farage said: “I think some of the most dramatic scenes in the House of Commons certainly in living memory and maybe some of the most dramatic for a couple of centuries.
“Today was supposed to be the day that we had the SNP motion and this was a motion about Gaza.
“By the way nothing that’s happened today has anything to do with the UK. Nothing to do with the cost of living, nothing to do with open-door immigration, nothing to do with the NHS. This is all about Gaza.
“That is what is now dominating British politics. It is, of course, a direct result of the increasing sectarianism in British politics and in particular within the Labour Party.
“Keir Starmer has tried, ever since October 7, to take a relatively nuanced position: On the one hand, that Israel has the right to defend itself, but on the other that we don’t want to see excess casualties in Gaza.
“But that line has become harder and harder for him to take as many in the Labour movement, particularly those on the Muslim side of politics, are speaking out about the way Israel is behaving and calling it a genocide, which of course, in any historical sense, is a complete and utter outrage.”
After going through Wednesday’s events, Mr Farage added: “This is the extent to which religious sectarianism is now dominating British politics and the House of Commons. It is regrettable, to say the very least.
“It is an extraordinary decision that Hoyle made, in fact it takes us back to the days of John Bercow. Bercow was seen to make very controversial decisions in terms of what votes he allowed, what amendments he allowed during the whole Brexit debacle.
“However dramatic, however passionate the scenes were in Westminster during Brexit they are frankly as of nothing compared to what we’ve seen today.”
The row erupted when Sir Lindsay decided the Commons would first vote on Labour’s amendment before moving on to further votes on the SNP’s original motion and then a Government proposal seeking an “immediate humanitarian pause”.
He disregarded warnings from the House of Commons Clerk over the unprecedented nature of the move to pick the Labour amendment, which provoked uproar in the chamber.
Tory and SNP MPs accused him of helping Sir Keir Starmer avoid another damaging revolt over the Middle East issue.
They stormed out of the Commons in protest and dozens have signed a parliamentary motion declaring no confidence in the Speaker.
Labour’s amendment ended up passing unopposed without a formal vote after the Government pulled its participation.
It marked the first time the Commons formally backed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, though the Government does not have to adopt the position as the vote is not binding.
The SNP were ultimately unable to vote on their proposition calling for “an immediate ceasefire”, which was meant to be the focus of their Opposition Day.
Sir Lindsay apologised to MPs and vowed to hold talks with senior party figures.
Amid shouts of “resign”, he said: “I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing, and I regret it, and I apologise for how it’s ended up.”
He said he took the decision to allow all sides to “express their views” and that he was “very, very concerned about the security” of MPs who have received personal threats over their stance on the Gaza conflict.
