LONDON: British PM Rishi Sunak said on Sunday that a decision by the House of Commons speaker to break with procedure due to threats facing some lawmakers over their views on the Gaza conflict sent a dangerous signal that intimidation works.
Parliament descended into chaos on Wednesday night as tensions flared over a vote on whether to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the exact language to use. The speaker of the lower house, Lindsay Hoyle, said he broke with usual procedure for the vote because of what he described as “absolutely frightening” threats against lawmakers.
“In parliament this week, a dangerous signal was sent that intimidation works,” Sunak said in a post on X. “It is toxic for our society and our politics and is an affront to the liberties and values we hold dear here in Britain. Our democracy cannot and must not bend to the threat of violence and intimidation or fall into polarised camps who hate each other.”
On Saturday, Sunak’s Conservatives suspended one of their lawmakers Lee Anderson after he refused to apologise for saying the London mayor was under the control of Islamists.