SNP MP Joanna Cherry said her treatment in the Commons’ Brexit debate late Monday night, when she was cut off mid-speech was “incontrovertible proof of the contempt in which Scotland is held at Westminster“.
The Edinburgh politician was one of just two Scottish MPs allowed to take part.
Deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who told her to stop talking, insisted he had been “very kind” to allow two SNP MPs to speak in the debate.
Alex Salmond hit the roof, accusing Hoyle of going beyond his remit as chair of the committee stage of the debate. MPs were debating an amendment to the government’s Article 50 bill that would have stopped Theresa May triggering the formal process for leaving the EU, unless the parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had indicated their approval.
It was midnight before Cherry was able to speak, but after only a couple of minutes, Hoyle insisted she had come to the end of her speech, when she had not.
“I noted that Government Members were given as much time as they wanted to make their points, and I intend to take as much time, as is my right, to make my points,” Cherry argued.
“I think that the hon. and learned Lady’s speech has come to an end,” Hoyle replied. “Let us now please hear from the Minister.”
Salmond said the deputy speaker had cut her off while speaking and demanded she be allowed to continue, to jeers and shouts from MPs.
Cherry then walked out of the chamber.
Raising a point of order, Salmond told Hoyle: “It is quite clear that the honourable member had not resumed her seat, Sir. Being in the chair accords you many privileges but you cannot reinterpret the wishes of an honourable member who is on her feet.”
Hoyle responded: “As the chair I have the right to make decisions on this House. What I would say is quite rightly when I wanted to bring her in, which I did ... I certainly don’t expect advantages to be taken of the chair on the agreements that I make.”
Referring to the Brexit Bill, he said: “It is a very serious matter, it is so serious that I want to hear what the minister has to say.”
Earlier, Salmond has accused Commons authorities of “railroading debate on the biggest constitutional decision facing this country for 50 years” by limiting time for scrutiny in the House.
Cherry later tweeted: “I had not finished speaking. This evening is the incontrovertible proof of the contempt in which Scotland is held at Westminster “ MPs are back in the chamber for the second of three days of Brexit debate. The SNP will today push their “reset clause” amendment.
If passed, this would stop the Prime Minister triggering Article 50 until the European Council gave the UK a promise that if there failure to agree a deal, then Brexit should reset which should “result in the maintenance of the UK’s membership on the existing terms.”
The alternative if a deal isn’t reached is the so-called “dirty Brexit” where Britain is thrown out with no transitioning and no agreement on EU nationals, then Last month May insisted “no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal”.
Speaking ahead of the debate Salmond said: “If we meekly accept this, then Parliament could be voting next year to accept a bad deal or crash over the cliff edge of no deal. To avoid this we need a re-set clause to take the time limit and the pressure off the negotiations with Europe.
He added: “Thus far the Tories have been determined to railroad through this legislation without accepting a single amendment and they have been treating the devolved administrations with complete contempt.
"Time is running out for the Government to make meaningful concessions or the people will need to choose between being part of a Trumpian Britain or Scotland as a European nation"
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel