Commons chaos: Sir Lindsay Hoyle apologises after MPs walk out in protest

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has apologised after Tory and SNP MPs walked out of the Commons in protest against him and Penny Mordaunt, the Commons leader, accused him of having “undermined the confidence” of the House. Ms Mordaunt withdrew a Government amendment after Sir Lindsay took the highly unusual step of selecting both a Labour amendment as well the Government amendment to an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The decision means that MPs will vote on the Labour and Government amendments as well as the original SNP motion, saving Sir Keir Starmer from what had the potential to be an embarrassing rebellion among his backbenchers. Sir Lindsay returned to the Speaker’s Chair and told MPs: “I am honest to this House, I am true to this House, I believe in all members of this House and I have tried to do what I thought was the right thing for all sides of this House. “It is regrettable and I apologise for the decision that didn’t end up in the place that I wished for.”