What happened in the Commons today – and can the Speaker be sacked?
Raised voices, walk-outs, calls for resignations, even a few tears – it was a hairy day over in parliament on Wednesday and not the usual scenes expected from an opposition day debate.
So what rattled Westminster and its MPs? And how did the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, find himself at the centre of the furore?
Politics live: Tens of MPs sign no-confidence motion in Speaker after Commons chaos
We take a look at how the saga played out.
What was supposed to happen?
As the third largest party in the Commons, the SNP is entitled to three opposition days in parliament every session – letting them pick the topic to be debated on the floor of the chamber.
Wednesday was one of those days, and the party chose the Israel-Hamas war, laying down a motion calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Middle East.
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This has been a long-held position of the SNP, so the proposal came as no surprise.
But it did lead to mounting pressure on the Labour Party to shift its position – which had, until this point, echoed the government’s calls for a “pause” – as the last time a ceasefire vote took place, there was a raft of resignations from their frontbench.
So, on Tuesday – and after days of speculation – shadow foreign secretary David Lammy announced Labour would be putting forward an amendment to the SNP motion, calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”.
There were still caveats in place, including ensuring both sides laid down their weapons and that all the Israeli hostages were released, but it was seen as a big shift for Labour.
Come Wednesday, the stage was set for the debate – but little did we know about the chaos that was coming.
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Labour’s David Lammy calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”
Why is the Speaker in trouble?
At the start of a debate on a motion, it is down to the Speaker to decide if any amendments to it can be debated and voted on.
But parliamentary convention says that if the motion has been put forward by an opposition party, like the SNP, it cannot be amended by another opposition party, like Labour – only by the government.
Despite anger from his clerk, and feathers being spat by a number of MPs, Sir Lindsay decided both the government and Labour’s amendments to the SNP’s motion could and would be voted on, claiming he wanted to give the House as many options as possible when debating such an emotive topic.
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Speaker angers SNP and Tories
Conservative MPs accused the Speaker – a Labour MP before taking on the role – of making an “overtly political decision” to help Sir Keir Starmer fend off a rebellion from his own MPs, who could back the SNP motion without a Labour alternative to support.
Then came a curve ball from the Tory Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt, who decided to pull the government’s amendment from the floor.
She announced her party would “play no further part” in proceedings in protest at the actions of Sir Lindsay – something she claimed “undermined the confidence” of MPs in the House’s procedures.
Penny Mordaunt made a surprise move by pulling the government’s amendment. Pic: Sky News
And with that amendment gone – and Tories abstaining from any votes – Labour’s amendment was able to pass without a vote.
But that meant the original SNP motion had been changed to Labour’s form of words, and the Scottish MPs never got a chance to vote on their own proposal, leading to fury from their benches.
How has he responded?
MPs from the SNP and the Conservatives staged a walkout in protest to what had played out and demanded Sir Lindsay come to the Commons to explain himself.
And eventually, he did, apologising to all sides over what had happened.
The Speaker reiterated his earlier justifications for selecting the Labour amendment, saying he had been trying to ensure all options were on the table for MPs to vote on – as well as protecting MPs’ safety.
“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.
“I do take responsibility for my actions.”
But Tory MPs were heard shouting “resign” throughout his apology, and SNP leader Stephen Flynn said he would “take significant convincing” that his position was “not now intolerable”.
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SNP leader says Speaker’s position may be ‘intolerable’
Could he be replaced?
After all the drama had come to a close in the chamber, there were more parliamentary shenanigans to be had.
A group of 33 MPs from both the Tories and the SNP signed up to a no-confidence motion in Sir Lindsay in the form of an early-day motion.
So-called EDMs are rarely debated, but they offer MPs a way of drawing attention to their views and stating them publicly.
So while it may highlight their unhappiness with the Speaker, it doesn’t push him out the door.
Yet there is a feeling in the air that Sir Lindsay is going to have to fight to keep his job now and win over his critics.
How would parliament choose a new speaker?
According to the Institute for Government, there’s no formal means of removing the Speaker from their role.
But MPs can hold a vote of no confidence in him or her, making it extremely difficult for them to hold on – and perhaps pushing them towards resigning.
If Sir Lindsay did step down – either because of a vote or the threat of one coming his way – the chair would need to be filled.
Candidates would be put forward via written nominations, and if one secured more than 50% of the vote among MPs, a motion would be put to the Commons to confirm their appointment.
If the motion didn’t pass, selection and voting would start again.
If nobody secured 50% in the first place, the candidate with the lowest vote share would be removed from the ballot and the vote would be repeated until someone hit the threshold and a winner emerged.
An ice alert for the South East and West Midlands is among new weather warnings now in force across the UK.
Wintry conditions caused widespread travel problems on Tuesday and forced more than 200 schools to close.
Forecasters say the difficult conditions will last until Wednesday morning, raising the prospect of a tricky rush hour on the roads and public transport.
The ice alert covers London and most of southern England as far west as Exeter, and as far north as Birmingham, Leicester and Chester, and expires at 10am.
A snow and ice warning also covers nearly all of Wales apart from some far western areas, most of western and northern Scotland and all of Northern Ireland – again until 10am.
The warnings are in force until between 10 am and noon on Wednesday. Pic: Met Office
Another snow and ice warning snakes up the coast from East Anglia to the Scottish border and is in force until noon.
The Met Office has warned some journeys by road and rail could take longer in the morning.
It says drivers should allow extra time and pack items such as a blanket, spade, phone charger, and food and water.
Walkers should also be wary of icy surfaces and cyclists are advised to stick to main roads that are more likely to have been treated.
Temperatures in many places are set to be close to or below zero overnight, while snow accumulations are forecast to range from a couple of centimetres to potentially 10cm or more on higher ground.
Areas above 300m in Scotland could see build-ups of 15-20cm, the Met Office said.
Check the forecast in your area
People play in the snow on the hills of Buxton, Derbyshire. Pic: PA
The village of Brandon in Durham. Pic: PA
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Neil Armstrong, said: “With cold Arctic air firmly in place over the UK, continued winter hazards are likely through much of this week, with further updates to warnings likely in the coming days.”
Monday night saw sub-zero temperatures for much of the UK, reaching as low as -11.2C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
Snowfall was also widely reported, with 12cm recorded at Watnall in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday morning.
Sam Drinkwater’s Granary Stables, Strensham, Worcestershire. Pic: PA
By Tuesday afternoon, around 140 school closures had been reported in Wales, around 50 in the West Midlands and 20 in Derbyshire.
There was also a travel headache for thousands of train passengers as National Rail warned of disruption to various routes.
By midday, around 64 of 120 services (53%) planned by East Midlands Railway had been cancelled or delayed by at least half an hour, according to punctuality website trains.im.
Carr Gate, West Yorkshire. Pic: PA
Figures for other operators included London North Eastern Railway (37%), Transport for Wales (13%), West Midlands Trains (13%) and CrossCountry (12%).
Rail travellers have been advised to check online before setting out and drivers should also plan ahead.
Luton, Bedfordshire
Buxton, Derbyshire. Pic: PA
Darren Clark, from National Highways, said: “Gritters will be out treating our roads around the clock when ice or snow is forecast, but it is still important to drive to the conditions.
“Keep your distance and reduce your speed, because even in conditions that seem normal, and where the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh grit has not been worked into the carriageway.
“Drivers should plan their journeys, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel.”
Snowfall in Warwick. Pic: PA
Brill, Buckinghamshire
Wednesfield in the West Midlands. Pic: Phil Bateman
The first amber cold health alert of the season has also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England, except the South, until 6pm on Saturday.
The amber warning is issued when the weather is likely to “cause significant impacts across health and social care services”, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among older people or those with health conditions.
An amber cold health alert covers most of England. Pic: UKHSA
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events at the UKHSA, said: “It is vital to check in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure they are well prepared for the onset of cold weather. Particularly if they are elderly or otherwise at increased risk.”
Yellow health alerts – the second lowest – are in place for the South East, South West and London.
Belper in Derbyshire. Pic: Ben Drane
More expected in coming days
The Met Office has warned there could be further heavy rain, strong wind and more snow during the rest of the week as temperatures stay below average
“Further snow accumulations are expected through the week, mostly by night at low levels, in northern Scotland and exposed parts elsewhere,” it said.
Snow and ice at Corgarff in Aberdeenshire. Pic: PA
A dusting of snow at Glenshee Ski Centre. Pic: PA
Snow and ice surround The Watchers sculpture at Corgarff in Aberdeenshire. Pic: PA
Those in the impacted areas have been told power cuts are possible and mobile phone coverage might be affected.
The Met Office said there was also a slight chance some rural communities could be cut off.
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Pic: Raj Patel
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
UK
Harshita Brella: Woman found in car boot in Ilford died from strangulation – as CCTV of suspect released
A woman whose body was found in the boot of a car last week died from strangulation, according to a post-mortem examination.
A manhunt is under way for Harshita Brella’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, who police believe has fled the country.
Officers said today that her body was discovered in a silver Vauxhall Corsa.
They believe she was killed on the evening of Sunday 10 November and driven in the early hours from the couple’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire, to Ilford in east London.
The body was found in a Vauxhall Corsa. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
Police believe Pankaj Lamba has fled the UK
It’s understood the 24-year-old had been under the protection of a court order for victims of domestic abuse.
Northamptonshire Police said officers began searching for her after receiving a call with concerns for her welfare on 13 November – the day before she was found dead.
A post-mortem examination found Ms Brella’s preliminary cause of death was strangulation, police said.
New CCTV images of Pankaj Lamba, 23, have also been released as the manhunt continues.
Ms Brella lived in Corby. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
The couple lived at an address in Skegness Walk. Pic: PA
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands major crime unit, said: “We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby.
“Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, and made his getaway.”
Northamptonshire Police, the East Midlands major crime unit and the National Crime Agency are working together to try to find him.
New CCTV of the suspect has been released
Pics: Northamptonshire Police
An inquest into Ms Brella’s death will be opened on 20 November at The Guildhall in Northampton.
Anyone who thinks they might have seen Pankaj Lamba is urged to make contact as soon as possible.
“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita,” said DCI Campbell.
People with relevant information can call 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or online at mipp.police.uk
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