SNP MPs must leave Westminster, says deputy leader

Keith Brown, deputy leader of the SNP, is unhappy that the SNP's own motion was not voted on. Photo: Ken Jack/Getty

The SNP should again consider withdrawing MPs from Westminster after the defeat of its Gaza proposal, the party's deputy leader has said.

Keith Brown said he had been «inclined» in the past agree» that Scottish National Party MPs should appear in the House of Commons «to make arguments on behalf of Scotland».

But he said the issue should be «reconsidered» in light of the furor over Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, who broke the deal to allow a vote on the Labor amendment during a Scottish National Party debate on calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

< p>This meant that the SNP's own proposal was not put to a vote, and prevented a split in the Labor Party. Sir Lindsay made a groveling apology to the Scottish National Party as he faced calls to resign.

He also signaled he would allow a new debate under emergency rules, before announcing last week that he would not do so.< /p>

The SNP was reported to be considering responding with a «disengagement» campaign using daily parliamentary activities.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, breaks the agreement by allowing the Labor amendment to be voted on during a Scottish National Party debate. Photo: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

This could mean MPs failing to appear on select committees on which the Scottish National Party has a seat, or refusing to take part in debates held outside the main Commons, such as at Westminster -hall.

Stephen Flynn, member of the Scottish National Party. The Westminster leader denied they were considering «disengagement», saying: «Until we achieve our independence, we will never leave Scotland without a voice in Westminster.»

But, writing in the pro-independence Sunday National newspaper, Mr Brown said the «tradition of Westminster sidelining, marginalizing or suppressing Scotland is not new.»

Scotland's denial of democracy

He wrote: «Given the UK's 'dietary democracy' and the denial of democracy in Scotland, it seems that we now need to examine whether it is right to confer any legitimacy on an institution determined to deny democracy in Scotland.

» Some throughout For many years people have believed that Scotland should leave Westminster, while others believe that it is necessary to be there, to argue on Scotland's behalf, to promote and defend Scotland's interests. I tend to agree with this.

“But since the institution can be so easily manipulated to thwart the representatives of Scotland, this issue, in my opinion, needs to be reconsidered.”

Warning if Labor wins election

Mr Brown said Labor's 'hoop' response to how the Gaza bid was handled 'should be a warning' about how Scotland would be treated if Sir Keir's party Starmer will win the general election.

Jamie Halcro Johnston, a Scottish Conservative MP, tweeted: “The Nationalists' 'bold' approach: asking people to vote for an SNP MP who will NOT go to work WILL NOT happen represent you, WILL NOT defend Scotland, but WILL get a bigger salary.»

Shona Robison, Deputy First Minister, told BBC Scotland's Sunday show: «There needs to be a discussion about the role of our parliamentary group, but in my view they are best when they cover key important issues and provide direction from the front, as they did, for example, on the Gaza issue.”

Asked if she would be worried if they talked about leaving, she replied: “I don’t know what they’re talking about.”