Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Cox has called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to "take responsibility" for Wednesday night's Commons chaos on the Gaza war.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to apologise after tabling a Labour amendment on the motion for a ceasefire, causing uproar in the Chamber.
As a result of Hoyle allowing the Labour amendment, the SNP were blocked from voting on its original proposal, with the Government pledging to 'play no further part' in proceedings.
Addressing the Commons today amid mounting pressure to resign, Hoyle told MPs he will do "whatever it takes to protect anybody in this chamber".
Sir Geoffrey Cox has criticised the Labour leader following the Commons chaos
GB News / PA
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called for a vote of no confidence against the Speaker and told fellow MPs that last night's events had "descended into farce".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has "absolutely" denied making any threat or warning to Hoyle before the ruling, but admitted that a "conversation" was had with the Speaker, where he urged him to have a "broader debate" on the issue.
Speaking in Parliament to GB News, Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Cox hit out at both Hoyle and Starmer, condemning the "fundamental error of judgement".
Cox stated that the Speaker will need to work "very hard" to restore the confidence of the House, as the number of no confidence letters continues to rise.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has apologised for making the decision on Wednesday
Parliament TV
Cox told GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope that the proceedings came as a result of "external threat" from the Labour Party.
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In defence of Hoyle, Cox admitted that the responsibility lies "with the opposition leader" and "those who put pressure" on the Speaker.
Cox explained: "Whoever is responsible for putting him in that position and making arguments to him that he should concede an important convention because of those threats has real questions to answer.
"I'm afraid that buck must lie at the leader of the opposition's door. He aspires to lead this country, and yet he has made arguments to the Speaker that we should alter our procedures in this House because of the risks to MPs and intimidation that would have people who'd occupied this House over the years revolving in their graves."
When suggested by Christopher Hope that Keir Starmer has "denied any threat" to the Speaker, Cox hit back and claimed the Labour leader "is only denying that he threatened the Speaker", not having the conversation.
Sir Geoffrey Cox criticised the 'fundamental error' made by Hoyle
GB News
Cox continued: "That was a fundamental error of judgement by whomever did it, and we know that the Leader of the Opposition attended on him for some minutes and that afterwards the decision was taken.
"What would be the case if the Prime Minister had gone to see the Speaker and the result half an hour later, was that the Speaker had changed his mind to favour the government? There would have been howls of execration and protest."
When pressed on whether Sir Hoyle should retain his role as the Speaker of the House, Cox again defended him, stating: "I'm not calling for Lindsay Hoyle to go. I think he's been a compassionate, humane speaker who I think was misguided and misled by the advice and pressure he was put under.
"I think the real question mark resides over a leader of the opposition who has either permitted his party or himself as representive to the Speaker. But we should concede weak need to external threats and intimidation."
