A Conservative backbencher has mentioned he has “had enough of talentless people“ after MPs were allegedly “manhandled” and “bullied” within the House of Commons throughout a vote on fracking.
MP Sir Charles Walker was visibly indignant as he mentioned MPs have been all on the despatch field once they have been instructed – opposite to earlier directions – that the division would now not be handled as a vote of confidence.
The U-turn induced chaos within the division lobbies and Labour’s Chris Bryant claimed he noticed MPs being “physically manhandled” and “bullied” into the voting foyer.
As the vote descended right into a farce, chief whip Wendy Morton – livid over the last-minute change in plan – declared her resignation within the voting foyer, eye-witnesses mentioned. However, Downing Street later confirmed she and deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker stay of their roles.
In an interview with the BBC, Sir Charles, MP for Broxbourne, mentioned he thought the entire thing was “pitiful”.
He mentioned: “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.
“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.”
Sir Charles mentioned he doesn’t assume there may be any getting back from this for the Truss administration, including: “I have to say I’ve been of that view really since two weeks ago.”
“Unless we get our act together and behave like grown-ups, I’m afraid many hundreds of my colleagues, perhaps 200, will be leaving at the behest of their electorate,” he mentioned.
Sir Charles added: “I have had enough of talentless people – putting their tick in the right box, not because it’s in the national interest but because it’s in their personal interest to achieve ministerial position.”
It comes after former Labour minister Mr Bryant urged the Commons Deputy Speaker to launch an investigation after he claimed to see MPs being “physically manhandled” and “bullied” through the fracking vote.
Labour’s movement was defeated by 230 votes to 326, majority 96.
After the vote was introduced, Mr Bryant urged her to research the “scenes outside the entrance to the No lobby”.
The MP for Rhondda claimed cupboard ministers Therese Coffey and Jacob Rees-Mogg have been amongst a bunch of senior Tories who have been placing strain on Conservative MPs to vote towards the Labour movement on fracking.
Mr Bryant instructed Sky News that one MP, Alex Stafford, had been “physically manhandled” into the “no” foyer.
Business secretary Mr Rees-Mogg dismissed reviews that Tory MPs have been bullied, saying: “I think to characterise it as bullying is mistaken.
“I did hear one person shout and use an expletive as he marched in. He said everyone should go and vote and he said that loudly. But he didn’t say it to anyone individually. He said it to the assembled crowd.
“There were some people waiting outside the division lobby who weren’t sure whether it was a vote of no confidence or not and there was some discussion on the issue. It was a perfectly normal discussion.”
He mentioned there had been “confusion” after a “junior official” from No 10 had relayed a message to the federal government frontbench that it was now not a confidence vote.
“Nobody else was aware of that. Most members thought it was a vote of confidence,” he mentioned.
Therese Coffey additionally denied she “manhandled” Tory MPs. “Absolutely she was encouraging Con MPs into the government lobby but she didn’t manhandle anyone,” a supply mentioned.
Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain mentioned she had solely heard reviews about what occurred within the no foyer, however added there gave the impression to be grounds for an investigation.
She mentioned: “It certainly sounds like there needs to be an urgent investigation and I understand the Speaker is speaking to Madam Deputy Speaker now. But yes, I think we are looking at there should be a degree of censure for that kind of behaviour.
“There are plenty of eyewitnesses, frankly. There will not be just eyewitnesses who are other MPs, they will be doorkeepers et cetera.
“It is a horrendous loss of discipline and, just frankly, what message does it send to the country that people feel it is appropriate to behave in that way in this place when they are supposed to be representing their constituents?”
Shadow minister Anna McMorrin wrote on Twitter that she witnessed one Conservative MP “in tears” within the foyer.
Ms McMorrin, who’s the Labour MP for Cardiff North, 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.”
David Linden, MP for Glasgow East, tweeted that he had “just watched the Deputy Prime Minister practically pick up a hesitant Tory MP and march him into the Government lobby” and added that it was “astonishing”.
Labour MP Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray mentioned he witnessed “Whips screaming at Tories” and described it as “open warfare”.
Mr Murray tweeted: “I’ve never seen scenes like it at the entrance to a voting lobby.
“Tories on open warfare. Jostling and Rees-Mogg shouting at his colleagues. Whips screaming at Tories. They are done and should call a general election.
“Two Tory whips dragging people in. Shocking.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk