SNP criticised for ‘self-indulgent’ walkout after leader is thrown out of the chamber
Every MP from the party leaves Commons after the dismissal of an enraged Ian Blackford from PMQS
THE SNP was yesterday accused of staging a “self-indulgent stunt” after conducting a mass walkout during Prime Minister’s Questions as the party’s Westminster leader was banished from the House of Commons.
Ian Blackford was told to leave the chamber by John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, after the frontbencher tried to force the Commons to sit in private as he expressed outrage at the amount of time given to MPS to debate devolved issues relating to Brexit.
But the walkout was criticised by Scottish Conservatives, who accused the SNP of a “dereliction of duty”, while a Downing Street source suggested the party’s MPS were failing to represent their constituents’ interests. Mr Black- ford sparked fury in the chamber as he claimed Scotland was being sidelined during Brexit negotiations.
He accused the Government of a “power grab” over the return of responsibilities to the UK from Brussels as a result of withdrawal and repeatedly refused to take his seat as tempers flared on both sides of the Commons.
Tory MPS could be heard yelling “chuck him out” and Mr Bercow eventually moved to throw Mr Blackford out for the day, prompting cheering on the Conservative benches.
Every SNP MP then rose in solidarity with their leader and followed him out of the chamber.
The protest came after debating time on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was cut short on Tuesday because of the large amount of time needed for voting.
Mr Blackford said the Government had “disrespected” Scotland by not allowing more time for a debate on devolved powers.
He said: “It is a power grab and the MPS from Scotland were not given the courtesy of even debating it last night. It is a democratic outrage.”
Mr Blackford then tried to force a disruptive vote in the middle of PMQS to make the Commons sit behind closed doors.
Mr Bercow rejected the request for a vote during the session, but said he would allow one to take place immediately afterwards.
However, Mr Blackford was insistent and refused to take his seat.
As Mr Bercow struggled to maintain order, the Commons Speaker repeatedly shouted at Mr Blackford to “resume your seat” before he opted to ban him from the chamber.
Mr Bercow said Mr Blackford’s “persistent and repeated refusal” to sit down was sufficiently serious to warrant him being told to “withdraw immediately from the House”.
Jackson Carlaw, the deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said SNP MPS were pursuing “self-indulgent stunts as part of their own political agenda, purely to grab a few headlines”. He added: “We’ve seen it all before – seek a grievance and then nurse it for all it’s worth. That is all the SNP has become.
“They don’t represent Scotland. This was quite simply a dereliction of duty from the SNP.”
A Downing Street source added: “That sort of stunt effectively means that the SNP members who were down on the order paper to ask the Prime Minister a question can’t represent their constituents.
“We’ve said on a number of occasions that the politics of independence can be divisive and I think this is probably an illustration of that.”
Mr Blackford subsequently dismissed suggestions the move was a “stunt” and insisted he had a right to highlight the “outrageous” actions of the Government over Brexit.
The Commons Speaker has the power to remove MPS who “disregard” his authority.
Mr Blackford is the ninth MP to be asked to withdraw for the remainder of the day since 1992.