UK lawmakers say they fear for their safety, amid turmoil over Gaza ceasefire vote

LONDON — The chaotic debate over a ceasefire in Gaza reverberates through Britain’s Parliament as the speaker of the House of Commons faces calls to resign, and lawmakers say they fear for their safety amid pressure from all sides of the issue.
Wednesday’s debate was triggered when the SNP put forward a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire that highlighted the devastation caused by Israel’s attacks in Gaza. The Labour Party offered an amendment that stressed Israel’s need to ensure it never again faces attacks like those that were carried out by Hamas on October 7. The government countered with its own amendment restating its call for an “immediate humanitarian pause” in the fighting.
In an effort to ease tensions in Parliament, the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, sought to allow separate votes on all three motions.
But the speaker’s carefully constructed compromise collapsed when the government withdrew its motion, because Hoyle’s decision departed from House of Commons traditions under which he was expected to reject the Labour amendment. The SNP followed suit, saying lawmakers would no longer have an opportunity to vote on its proposal.
Hoyle today apologizes and acknowledges that he made a mistake. But he says that he was trying to make sure that all lawmakers had the chance to make their positions clear in a climate of threat and intimidation.
“I have a duty of care that I will carry out to protect people,″ he tells the Commons. “It is the protection that led me to make a wrong decision, but what I do not apologize (for) is the risk that has been put on all members at the moment. I had serious meetings yesterday with the police on the issues and threats to politicians for us heading to an election.”