Hoyle hanging on as list of MPs calling for axe nears 100

COMMONS Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s position remained in jeopardy last night as the number of MPs calling for him to go ticked up towards 100.

At least 93 MPs have signed the motion of no confidence, bringing him closer to the danger zone in which he can no longer command the confidence of Parliament.

Senior Tory sources indicated that should the number of MPs reach a sixth of the House of Commons – just over 100 – Sir Lindsay would find it difficult to continue.

Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday was raucous as MPs shouted at one another with no intervention from the Speaker, who would usually ask for quiet so Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer can be heard. One Tory source said the situation was dangerous for him because people would conclude it was a better spectacle than usual and question why he was needed.

It comes after Sir Lindsay faced a backlash last week for breaching convention by allowing a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Some Tory and SNP MPs walked out in protest and the debate descended into chaos.

While some members of the Government have given Sir Lindsay their backing, the SNP said he was not fit to remain in the role.

Mr Sunak has said that Sir Lindsay’s conduct during the debate was ‘very concerning’, although other members of his government support the Speaker, such as Home Secretary James Cleverly. There is no formal mechanism to oust the Speaker, but MPs can put down a motion against him which can make his position untenable.

‘Sir Lindsay close to danger zone’