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MPs allege bullying during chaotic fracking vote | MPs allege bullying during chaotic fracking vote |
(32 minutes later) | |
Labour MP Chris Bryant tweeted a picture he took in the division lobby in the House of Commons | Labour MP Chris Bryant tweeted a picture he took in the division lobby in the House of Commons |
Conservative MPs were bullied and manhandled into backing Liz Truss in a vote on fracking, according to MPs who witnessed the scenes. | Conservative MPs were bullied and manhandled into backing Liz Truss in a vote on fracking, according to MPs who witnessed the scenes. |
Ministers denied claims physical force had been used to persuade colleagues to vote with the government. | |
But Labour MP Chris Bryant called for an inquiry into what "looked like bullying". | |
Meanwhile, Tories told the BBC that chief whip Wendy Morton, and her deputy, were no longer in post. | |
However, this claim has not been confirmed. | |
One furious Tory MP described the chaotic events as a "shambles and a disgrace". | One furious Tory MP described the chaotic events as a "shambles and a disgrace". |
Visibly shaken, senior Conservative MP Charles Walker said what he saw as "inexcusable" and there was "no coming back" for the government. | Visibly shaken, senior Conservative MP Charles Walker said what he saw as "inexcusable" and there was "no coming back" for the government. |
To Tory MPs who backed Liz Truss to be prime minister, Mr Walker said "I hope it was worth it". | |
Speaking later to the BBC's World Tonight, he said: "I expect the prime minister to resign very soon because she's not up to her job." | |
Live updates: Braverman quits amid chaotic scenes in Parliament | Live updates: Braverman quits amid chaotic scenes in Parliament |
Shapps replaces Braverman as home secretary | Shapps replaces Braverman as home secretary |
Why are you still here, Starmer asks Truss | Why are you still here, Starmer asks Truss |
When asked about allegations made by MPs, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News to "characterise it as bullying was mistaken". | When asked about allegations made by MPs, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News to "characterise it as bullying was mistaken". |
Mr Bryant spoke in the House of Commons after a Labour lost a vote on banning fracking despite a Tory rebellion. | Mr Bryant spoke in the House of Commons after a Labour lost a vote on banning fracking despite a Tory rebellion. |
He said MPs should be able to vote "without fear or favour", saying "we want to stand up against bullying". | He said MPs should be able to vote "without fear or favour", saying "we want to stand up against bullying". |
Labour had tried to use the vote to force the introduction of a law to ban fracking. | Labour had tried to use the vote to force the introduction of a law to ban fracking. |
Tory whips ordered their MPs to vote against the motion or face being suspended, telling them it was test of confidence in Ms Truss. | Tory whips ordered their MPs to vote against the motion or face being suspended, telling them it was test of confidence in Ms Truss. |
But the process was thrown into confusion at the last minute when Climate Minister Graham Stuart suggested it was not a confidence vote. | |
Chaotic scenes in the voting lobby followed, as whips tried to get Tory MPs to oppose the Labour motion. | Chaotic scenes in the voting lobby followed, as whips tried to get Tory MPs to oppose the Labour motion. |
The government won the vote by 326 votes to 230 - a government majority of 96. | The government won the vote by 326 votes to 230 - a government majority of 96. |
The list on Parliament's website, which shows how MPs vote, reveals that 40 Conservative MPs did not take part, including Ms Truss and Chief Whip Wendy Morton. | |
Labour shadow minister Anna McMorrin wrote on Twitter that she witnessed one Conservative MP "in tears" in the lobby after the vote. | Labour shadow minister Anna McMorrin wrote on Twitter that she witnessed one Conservative MP "in tears" in the lobby after the vote. |
Ms McMorrin tweeted: "Extraordinary stuff happening here during the vote on fracking which is apparently 'not a confidence vote'. | Ms McMorrin tweeted: "Extraordinary stuff happening here during the vote on fracking which is apparently 'not a confidence vote'. |
"I've just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking." | "I've just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking." |
Labour's shadow secretary of state for Scotland, Ian Murray, said he witnessed "whips screaming at Tories" and described it as "open warfare". | |
However, in a tweet one Conservative MP Alexander Stafford pushed back against the claims, saying he had a "frank and robust conversation outside the voting lobbies confirming my opposition to fracking, with members of the government, nothing more". | |
"No one pushes me around," he added. | |
The vote was the first parliamentary test of the government's fracking plans, but was never likely to overturn government policy, given the size of the Conservatives' majority. |