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Tories ‘punish’ Sir Lindsay Hoyle by forcing him to miss Platinum Jubilee tributes to the Queen

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to miss the ‘humble address’ to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Yui Mok/PA Wire
Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to miss the ‘humble address’ to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Conservatives have been accused of punishing Sir Lindsay Hoyle over partygate, by forcing him to miss Platinum Jubilee tributes to the Queen.

Tory whips are said to be furious that the House of Commons Speaker allowed a vote among MPs on whether to refer Boris Johnson to Parliament’s privileges committee.

The committee will rule on whether the Prime Minister knowingly misled MPs, which could increase pressure from Conservatives for him to resign.

Last week, Chris Heaton-Harris, the Chief Whip, refused to change the scheduled date for the Commons “humble address” to the Queen, to allow Sir Lindsay to travel to the Falklands to commemorate the Battle of Goose Green.

Sir Lindsay was forced to choose between the events and decided to go ahead with the Falklands trip, leaving his deputy, Dame Eleanor Laing, to read the traditional Speaker’s humble address in his place.

Speaker 'frustrated' he could not attend both events

An address is traditionally given on a jubilee by the Commons and Lords Speakers on behalf of both Houses of Parliament, and last took place at the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Mr Heaton-Harris is understood to have argued that the date had already been announced by the Government, so MPs could offer their tributes to the Queen on the last sitting day of Parliament before the week’s recess that precedes the jubilee weekend.

But sources close to Sir Lindsay said the date for his trip could only be confirmed close to the time, because of the Falkland Islands’ Covid restrictions. He was said to be “frustrated” that the Government had not allowed him to attend both events.

Sir Lindsay is said to have prioritised the foreign trip, which involved an 18-hour flight on an RAF jet, because of his love of Britain’s overseas territories.

One MP familiar with the spat said Mr Heaton-Harris had been angry that Sir Lindsay had allowed the privileges committee vote last month.