Alex Stafford Wasn't Bullied Says Speaker
Report published into altercation in Commons lobby before fracking vote
Alex Stafford receives 'gestures of comfort' from his party colleagues. Picture: Twitter
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, has published the report into the investigation into allegations that former Ealing councillor Alex Stafford was bullied and assaulted during an altercation in the House of Commons.
Alex Stafford used to represent Ealing Broadway on Ealing Council and his brother remains a councillor and was the former leader of the Conservatives in the borough.
The Serjeant-at-Arms and Commons clerks were asked to look into exactly what happened on the evening on 19 October in the division lobbies. A video had been published which appeared to show a scuffle and the MP for Rother Valley was reported by eyewitnesses as having been manhandled and being in tears.
33 MPs and 4 officials were interviewed as part of the investigation and 3 other MPs submitted written testimony of what they observed and a number of photographs of the events were considered.
The Speaker made a statement to the House on Tuesday morning (1 November) saying,“ There is no evidence of any bullying or undue influence placed on other members.
“While some members thought physical contact was being used to force a member into the lobby, the member concerned has said very clearly that this did not happen.”
It is understood that this refers to Mr Stafford who had been unhappy that he was being obliged to vote in a way that suggested he was supportive of fracking. Fracking is very unpopular with his constituents in Yorkshire and he has spoke strongly against it in the past.
The opposition had tabled a motion to ban fracking but the government whips had said that this was a confidence issue and that anyone voting against the government was liable to lose the whip.
Confusion arose among Conservative MPs when the Minister closing the debate, Jacob Rees Mogg, appeared to suggest that the vote was not a confidence issue. While tellers were being found to carry out the vote a number of government ministers, including Rees Mogg and Therese Coffey were gathered in the Bar Lobby. They had congregated around Mr Stafford, who was particularly concerned about whether or not it was a confidence vote. Passing opposition MPs were shouting encouragement to him urging him to vote with his conscience. Rumours were also circulating at this time that the Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip had resigned meaning that many MPs were hanging around to see events unfold rather than filing back to the chamber.
At this point the discussions between the Conservative MPs became ‘more fraught’ and voices were raised ‘more than was necessary’. The noise from the lobby was so loud that the tellers were forced to pause counting.
The report states, “It appears that a few Members, from differing parties, used intemperate language towards one another, although exact details of what was said are unclear. Some of the contributions from opposition Members, urging those concerned to vote with their conscience, suggesting that this would be the biggest mistake of the Member’s life or that they would regret it, further inflamed general tensions, whether or not that was their intention.”
Mr Stafford said that he did not hear what opposition MPs had been calling out to him.
The report goes on to relate, “It is very clear that the general atmosphere in the lobby was intense and several of those present found it very upsetting, both at the time and afterwards. However, there is no evidence that anyone was bullied into voting in a particular way: two Government Members were particularly keen to seek clarity from the Whips about the status of the vote, given the importance of fracking as an issue in their constituencies (one of whom was identified as the apparent victim of bullying). They were both engaged in intensive discussions with Government colleagues, but their own evidence is clear – the robust nature of the discussion was a result of their uncertainty about the status of the vote, rather than of their being subjected to any inappropriate pressure to vote.”
Suggestions that Mr Stafford had been assaulted were also dismissed with the conclusion that any physical contact was ‘a gesture of comfort’. He himself said that he didn’t consider that any physical force had been used against him.
Alex Stafford's appearance next day with Jacob Rees Mogg described as a 'hostage video'
The Serjeant-at-Arms has spoken to some MPs about taking photos of the incident which Is forbidden under the conventions of the House. The offending members, including it is believed Chris Bryant the Chair of the Committees on Standards and Privileges, have been asked to delete them and remove any copies from their social media account.
The overall conclusion of the report was, “It is undoubtedly the case that it was very intense in the lobby – voices were raised; some Members were clearly stressed and intemperate, but their conduct did not amount to sustained personalised abuse, bullying or physical pressure to vote.”
It is widely believed that the incident was the final straw for many Conservative MPs who were losing confidence in the leadership of Liz Truss and several called for her to stand down. The following morning she met with Sir Graham Brady, the Head of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory backbenchers. At 1.30pm on 20 October she announced her resignation.
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November 1, 2022