Drama and chaos at Westminster as SNP walk out of Commons

The rammy caused chaos, with Prime Minister’s Questions coming to a halt as SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford clashed with Speaker John Bercow.

The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP had accused Theresa May of breaking a promise to “treat Scotland as part of a union of equals”.

“Last night she pressed ahead with a power grab in direct opposition to Scotland’s elected parliament,” he said.

May dismissed Blackford’s description, saying Brexit would lead to more powers coming to the Scottish Parliament.

“It is not the case that this is any way a power grab,” she said. “Over 80 areas of responsibility of decision making are going to flow direct to Holyrood. Only the SNP could say that getting 80 more areas where they're getting to take more decisions is a power grab.”

Blackford said May was wrong: “I really hope that the people of Scotland listened very carefully to what the Prime Minister said. The reality of the situation is that powers that are enshrined under the Scotland Act 1998 are being grabbed back by this government, 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. The people of Scotland will not be disrespected by this parliament.”

Blackford said he had no option but to invoke an archaic parliamentary procedure and ask that the Commons “now sits in private”.

Bercow, unsure, took advice from clerks, and suggested that the vote on sitting in private be taken at the end of Prime Minister's Questions.

Blackford disagreed.

“There can be a discussion and it can be at the end of the session and that is the end of the matter,” Bercow said.

Blackford stood his ground, infuriating Bercow.

“Resume your seat,” said the Speaker. “Resume your seat, young man [David Linden MP]. You're not moving anything. No. No. Resume your seat. Resume your seat, Mr Blackford. Order, order, order. The house will have heard... order, please. The House will have heard very clearly my acceptance that there can be a vote on this matter.”

Blackford remained standing.

Bercow threw him out: “Under the power given to me by standing order number 43 in light of the persistent and repeated refusal of the Right Honourable gentleman to resume his seat when so instructed, I order the Right Honourable gentleman to withdraw immediately from the House for the remainder of this day's sitting.”

All SNP MPs then stood up and followed their leader out of the chamber.

Tory MPs waved and sarcastically shouted “Bye”.

On Tuesday, with so little time to debate the entire EU Withdrawal Bill, MPs had just 15 minutes to speak on devolution, and Tory minister David Lidington spoke for every one of those minutes, stopping anyone else from taking part.

Speaking to journalists after leaving the chamber, Blackford said the SNP would take the UK Government on in "every way", including through parliamentary devices.

He said: "Scotland's voice has not been heard. We have had changes to the devolution settlement that were pushed through last night without Scottish MPs' voices being heard. That is a democratic outrage.

"I asked the Prime Minister to bring in emergency legislation so we can conduct a proper debate, with respect, on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Let's discuss the power grab that is coming from Westminster.

"That is not acceptable and the Speaker refused to allow a division which I rightly called for. It is an absolute disgrace.

"My job, my colleagues' job, is to stand up for the powers of the Scottish Parliament. I will do that."

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she was "right behind" Blackford and accused Westminster of treating Scotland with "contempt".

But there was little support from other Scottish MPs, other than the Greens.

Scottish Labour’s Lesley Laird said: “Today’s stunt by Ian Blackford & his colleagues simply emphasises further that they have one aim – to play political games rather than standing up for Scotland.

“They had a chance today to question the Prime Minister and secure a three hour debate on devolution. Instead, they chose to flounce out of the House of Commons.

“Labour have proposed a solution to break the deadlock, and the onus is on David Lidington and David Mundell to sort this out. People in Scotland just want this mess fixed before it ends up in the courts.”

Christine Jardine from the LibDems said she was “utterly appalled” by the “stunt”.

“They did nothing but silence themselves and other Scottish MPs,” she said.

“Equally, the Scottish Tories have dirt on their hands. Their cowardly move to block amendments on devolution being heard in Parliament got us here. Both the SNP and the Scottish Tories have shown contempt for the people who elected them.”

However, in response to criticism of the move by Tory MSP Miles Brigg, Scottish Labour's Kezia Dugdale tweeted: "Tories would never play political games would they... like, I don’t know, only given 15mins to debate Scotland then filibustering it out?!"

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said: "However theatrical the SNP walk-out from #PMQs was, it's the UK Government's actions yesterday in tearing up the principle of devolved consent which show the real disrespect for parliamentary democracy."

Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary David Mundell claimed the SNP was about to be granted a debate on the devolution aspects of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

He added: "Disappointed, if not surprised, that if they really felt so strongly about it, they chose a stunt over holding the Government to account."