Starmer’s lobbying of Hoyle draws criticism amid Gaza vote fallout

Labour leader wins muted victory over ceasefire vote as he focuses on MPs’ safety

Labour officials were upbeat on Wednesday evening as they weighed up the implications of the day’s dramatic events in Westminster.

On the downside, the House of Commons had descended into farce as more than half the chamber left in protest at the decision by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, to allow a vote on Labour’s position on the war in Gaza. In doing so, Hoyle ignored years of precedent that states only one amendment should be brought to an opposition day motion – when smaller parties set the parliamentary agenda – and that any lodged by the government should take precedence.