The House of Commons descended into chaotic scenes tonight amid claims MPs were bullied prior to the government winning a vote on fracking.
MPs rejected Labour’s motion to allocate Commons time to consider banning fracking, in a vote initially designated by the Tory whips as a 'confidence motion' in Prime Minister Liz Truss’s Government.
Labour’s motion was defeated by 230 votes to 326, majority 96.
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But moments later a Labour former minister asked the Commons Deputy Speaker to investigate into 'the scenes outside the entrance to the No lobby' after he saw 'members being physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied'.
Raising a point of order, Chris Bryant said: “I would urge you to launch an investigation into the scenes outside the entrance to the no lobby earlier. As you know, members are expected to be able to vote without fear or favour and the behaviour code which is agreed by the whole of the House says there shall never be bullying or harassment.
“I saw members being physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied.
“If we want to stand up against bullying in this House of our staff, we have to stop bullying in this chamber as well.”
Raising a point of order, Thangam Debbonaire had earlier asked if 'strong rumours' the Government’s chief whip has resigned following the vote could be confirmed.
The shadow Commons leader said: “There are very strong rumours that the Government chief whip has apparently resigned. I wonder if it is possible to get some clarity more than rumours.”
She added: “I seek your guidance… given that this is a matter of parliamentary discipline.”
Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing replied: “She raises a point as to whether a member of the Government has resigned. I have not been given any such information. I know no more than that and it is not a point of order for the chair.”
Earlier climate minister Graham Stuart has said Labour’s motion “is not a confidence vote”. He accused Labour of trying to “seize” the order paper and added: “Quite clearly this is not a confidence vote.”
A Conservative MP asked Graham Stuart to confirm whether Tory MPs would lose the whip if “we vote or abstain from voting against this motion”. Intervening during the climate minister’s wind-up speech, MP for Rushcliffe Ruth Edwards asked: “I really do need to press him on this issue of a confidence vote because many of us have been told today by our whips, that if we vote or abstain from voting against this motion, we will lose the whip.
“So could he please confirm whether that is the case?”
The climate minister replied: “I thank the honourable lady for that question. And that is a matter for party managers, and I am not a party manager.”
Ms Edwards was seen mouthing “what” after Mr Stuart’s reply.
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