Minister says Lindsay Hoyle in ‘difficult’ position as he fights to retain post as speaker – UK politics live

The speak is due to hold talks with the parties to clear the air after Gaza ceasefire debate descended into chaos

Kiran Stacey has written a good backgrounder on how Keir Starmer managed to persuade Sir Lindsay Hoyle yesterday to ignore established procedural rules and to allow a vote on the Labour amendment. This is how it starts.

On Wednesday lunchtime Keir Starmer was facing the biggest crisis of his career.

Earlier in the week, he had been warned that as many as 100 of his MPs – including at least two of his shadow cabinet – were willing to rebel by voting for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza unless Labour brought forward its own amendment calling for one.

The vast majority of parliamentary fights start with differences over policy. But what makes them combustible is when they turn into arguments about process. It is the belief that the rules are being abused, distorted or ignored in order to gain political advantage that creates such anger.