Sunak: We will not bend to violence

Gaza vote farce sent dangerous signal that intimidation works, says PM

RISHI Sunak yesterday warned that Britain’s democracy ‘cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation’.

The Prime Minister spoke of his worry over an ‘emerging pattern’ which has seen legitimate protests ‘hijacked by extremists to promote and glorify terrorism’, MPs ‘verbally threatened and physically, violently targeted, and antiSemitic tropes beamed on to our own Parliament building.’

He said Parliament had sent a ‘dangerous signal’ that ‘intimidation works’ after a vote on Gaza last week descended into chaos when the Speaker broke with precedent amid concerns about MP safety.

In a statement posted online, Mr Sunak added: ‘It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain.

‘Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.’

Mr Sunak intervened after the Speaker defied parliamentary convention to spare Labour from a divisive vote on Gaza.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to come under fresh pressure today when MPs return to Parliament following a protest from the Tories and SNP over his decision. He also faces the threat of the SNP calling for a ‘ meaningful vote’ on the war which could again n inflame tensions over the issue.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden withheld his full backing from Sir Lindsay, saying: ‘I think he made a severe error of judgment in allowing concerns and threats of violence to influence what is going on in the House of Commons.

‘That is a very grave mistake. I think he’s still got questions to answer for how that came about.’

Mr Dowden said that the Leader of the Commons, Penny Mordaunt, will be meeting him today to ‘ get to the bottom’ of what had happened.

Sir Lindsay has said that he acted over fears about MPs’ security in the wake of tensions over Israel and Gaza. He said: ‘I never want to be in a situation where I pick up the phone to find a friend, on whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists.’

Questions remain over why he broke with protocol after he had meetings with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer before making his decision. Some Tory MPs have accused Sir Lindsay of bowing to intimidation from protesters. Shadow international development spokesman Lisa Nandy yesterday rejected suggestions that Labour MPs had tried to influence the Speaker. Ms Nandy said she believed he had done ‘the right thing’, but that ‘a long, hard look’ at parliamentary processes was needed.

More than 70 MPs have signed a motion expressing no confidence in Sir Lindsay after Wednesday’s SNP Opposition Day vote descended into chaos. He has apologised for his mistake’ and offered an emergency debate on the Scottish Nationalists’ motion calling for a ceasefire, in a bid to calm the party’s fury over its proposal being sidelined.

However, the SNP will seek to table fresh motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and have written to Labour and the Liberal Democrats to try to win their support.

They are seeking a ‘meaningful vote’ on the issue – a controversial procedure used during the Brexit days when Theresa May failed to win over her MPs. Such votes are not normally amendable or binding on the Government but they can prove divisive.

Sir Lindsay remains under pressure after the SNP – the third biggest party in the Commons – said it did not have confidence in him as Speaker.

It has also emerged that three female MPs have been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars amid concerns over their safety.

The trio had their security upgraded after a risk assessment was carried out with support from an organisation which provides protection for prominent members of the Government and Royal Family, the Sunday Times reported. They include Tory and Labour MPs.

The arrangements are being overseen by security minister Tom Tugendhat.

There has been an escalation in the level of threats faced by politicians following protests over Gaza.

‘Many MPs are petrified by the abuse they’re facing,’ one senior security source said.

Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in 2016 by far-Right extremist Thomas Mair, while Tory MP Sir David Amess was killed in 2021 by Ali Harbi Ali, an Islamic State sympathiser.

‘It is toxic for our society’

‘MPs are petrified by abuse’