[ad_1]
Desperate Prime Minister Liz Truss didn’t vote in the crunch fracking last night which saw MPs erupt in chaos amid angry scenes. Although the vote was about fracking, it was widely described as a confidence vote.
A Conservative MP described the chaos in the House of Commons as “inexcusable” and an “absolute disgrace”.
Sir Charles Walker, the MP for Broxbourne since 2005, told the BBC: “To be perfectly honest, this whole affair is inexcusable.
“It is a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party at every level and it reflects really badly obviously on the Government of the day.”
Asked if there is any coming back from this, Sir Charles, visibly angry, said: “I don’t think so. And I have to say I’ve been of that view really since two weeks ago.
“This is an absolute disgrace, as a Tory MP of 17 years who’s never been a minister, who’s got on with it loyally most of the time, I think it’s a shambles and a disgrace. I think it is utterly appalling. I’m livid.”
Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey denied she “manhandled” Tory MPs to force them to support the Government in the fracking vote, according to sources close to the Deputy Prime Minister.
“Absolutely she was encouraging Con MPs into the government lobby but she didn’t manhandle anyone,” they told the PA news agency.
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg also dismissed reports that Tory MPs were bullied into entering the “no” lobby in the Commons to vote against the Labour motion on fracking.
Asked if there was a breakdown in party discipline on Wednesday evening, Jacob Rees-Mogg told the PA news agency: “The Government won the vote with a majority of 90.”
Challenged over events outside of the vote on Wednesday evening, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “The official vote is important. That’s what determines a majority in Parliament.”
Asked if this is a Government functioning well, he said: “This is a Government that is functioning well.”
When Conservative MP Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) asked the minister to clarify if those Tories who abstain or vote against the motion will lose the party whip, Mr Stuart added: “That is a matter for party managers, and I am not a party manager.”
Labour’s motion was defeated by 230 votes to 326, majority 96, but the Commons heard there were “very strong rumours” the Government chief whip Wendy Morton had resigned.
The division list showed 38 Conservative MPs had no vote recorded although this does not automatically equate to an abstention – but in many cases will be.
Conservative trade minister Sir James Duddridge said it appeared that his “card did not scan as I walked through the lobby” and he backed the Government.
Those known to be abstaining included Chris Skidmore, the Prime Minister’s net-zero tsar.
The Conservative MP for Kingswood tweeted: “As the former energy minister who signed Net Zero into law, for the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 general election.
“I am prepared to face the consequences of my decision.”
Former minister Tracey Crouch and Tory colleague Angela Richardson (Guildford) both retweeted Mr Skidmore’s comments with the word “ditto”.
Anger over the Government’s changing position on a crunch vote on fracking, deeply unpopular among backbenches, led to chief Whip Wendy Morton quitting along with her deputy Craig Whittaker.
One MP who was in the Commons members lobby said he witnessed Ms Truss “run up” behind and “grab” Wendy Morton.
“It happened right by me, absolutely bizarre.”
[ad_2]
