Nothing but sound and fury during a disgraceful day in Parliament
SIR – The uproar in the House of Commons during the debate on a ceasefire in Gaza (report, February 22) revealed an unfortunate sense of self-importance on the part of its members. We have no control, and very little influence, over anything that is happening in the struggle between the Israeli armed forces and the Hamas terrorists. At a time when our country is crying out for good, competent government to address so many grave domestic problems, what on earth did our parliamentarians think they were playing at?
John Twitchen
Leigh-on-sea, Essex
SIR – Wednesday’s scenes in the Commons were a disgrace, thanks to the behaviour of self-serving MPS. I felt ashamed of the mother of parliaments. John Taylor
Purley, Surrey
SIR – Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, has made two grave errors in permitting a vote on Labour’s Gaza amendment, and the only honourable course of action is for him to resign.
First, by seemingly allowing his decisions to be influenced by pressure from the official Opposition, he has created a perception of bias – unforgivable for the holder of his office. Secondly, he has undermined his concern for the safety of MPS by allowing parliamentary proceedings to be affected by the actions of those outside Parliament who utter threats and carry out dreadful deeds.
Keith J Vaughan
Great Stretton, Leicestershire
SIR – The Speaker said he took the decision he did to protect MPS from harm. It is not his job to protect MPS from harm: that is the job of the police.
Sandy Pratt
Storrington, West Sussex
SIR – I cannot believe so many people are demanding the Speaker’s resignation. He has, until this point, been an exceptional Speaker. He made a mistake. How many have never done that? Forgive the poor man.
Joy Carroll
Stockton-on-tees, Co Durham
SIR – The statesmanlike way in which Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, handled the debacle resulting from the Speaker’s ruling, while at the same time pointing to the real villain of the piece, Sir Keir Starmer, was very impressive.
Sandra Jones
Old Cleeve, Somerset
SIR – I do not regard Prince William’s appeal for an end to the fighting in Gaza as inappropriate (Letters, February 22). It is a position many share. His father successfully trod the fine line between expressing his views and not taking sides, and I expect his son to do the same.
Geoff Tunstall
Kidderminster, Worcestershire