We must push for Gaza ceasefire
SNP MP FOR PERTH & PERTHSHIRE NORTH
It would be an understatement to say that the scenes which unfolded in parliament last week during the SNP’S Gaza debate were utterly shameful, and which many of my constituents have contacted me about to express their dismay.
For those who may not be aware, as the third largest party in Westminster, the SNP are entitled to three ‘opposition days’per year; a rare chance for us to choose a subject to debate with the government, and ultimately vote on.
For several months now, the SNP has been steadfast in our view that the UK Government must call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
This is in order to pressure the Israeli Government to stop the unspeakable atrocities it is inflicting upon the 2.2 million innocent civilians in Gaza, which has so far killed over 30,000, and subjected practically all of the population to the most barbaric of conditions.
Our conviction over this has only strengthened with each passing day, as the crisis deepens.
It has been a source of great frustration to see both the Conservatives and Labour fail to show the same concern for what evidently amounts to war crimes on the part of the Israeli regime.
For that reason, we chose to use our opposition day last week to bring this important issue to the chamber for a much-needed debate.
But the debate was essentially hijacked when the
Speaker of the House, pressured by the Labour Party who sought to avoid our vote altogether, went against advice and broke long-held convention by allowing them to table their own, watered-down amendment.
This is despite Labour having a total of 17 opposition days available to them throughout the year.
The result was that the SNP were denied a vote on our own debate, and the descent into farce that ensued.
It is difficult to come to any other conclusion than the Speaker, whose role depends upon impartiality, chose to sacrifice the SNP’S voice in a bid to appease Labour’s demands.
Worse yet, after apologising for this colossal error of judgement, the Speaker promised to rectify the matter by allowing the SNP a fresh debate on Gaza; only to go back on his word less than a week later.
For many, this will raise hauntingly familiar feelings on a wider issue that has become increasingly apparent over recent years – that Westminster, whether it be the Tories or Labour, simply doesn’t value Scotland’s voice.
More than anything, however, the whole ordeal speaks volumes about the broken state of Westminster politics when an issue as desperate as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is somehow reduced to a clutter of self-absorbent noise.