Will Lindsay Hoyle really last as Speaker? Today he managed to enrage the SNP once again by refusing the party’s application for an emergency debate. The plan had been to use this SO24 debate, as it is known, to refresh the argument that the SNP couldn’t put to a vote last week about a ceasefire in Gaza. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn raised this in a point of order this afternoon. He said:
Mr Speaker, you apologised to the SNP and indeed you apologised to this House. You said: “I made a mistake, we do make mistakes and I own up to mine. We can have an SO24 to get an immediate debate because the debate is so important to the House.” Those were your words, Mr Speaker…
It is my understanding, Mr Speaker, that SO24 application has not been accepted. Can you please advise me when it will?
The Speaker replied that the standing order said he should not give any reasons for his decision on an SO24 application, but that given the exceptional circumstances, he was going to explain anyway.
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