AN inquiry into the behaviour of members of the Conservative Party on the night of a key vote on fracking has found there was “no evidence of any bullying”, despite reports of people being physically forced into the government voting lobby.
On the night of October 19 Conservative MPs were subject to a three-line whip during a vote on a Labour motion which sought to formally ban fracking in England.
However, earlier that day Tory whips had written to MPs to warn them that the vote was being considered as a confidence measure in the then prime minister Liz Truss, with failure to support the government’s stance against a ban resulting in a members losing the whip.
But shortly before the vote Conservative MP Graham Stuart told the House of Commons that this was not a vote of confidence in Liz Truss, which resulted in the vote itself descending into chaos.
Earlier today I made a short statement about the outcome of the inquiry into events during the division on Wednesday 19 October. Watch here: pic.twitter.com/JspZaqPCds
— Sir Lindsay Hoyle (@CommonsSpeaker) November 1, 2022
In the wake of the vote – where members reported witnessing “bullying, screaming and shouting” in the lobby – chief whip Wendy Morton and deputy whip Craig Whittaker reportedly lost their jobs, with Whittaker allegedly telling colleagues “I am f***ing furious and I don’t give a f*** anymore.”
Downing Street later confirmed that the pair remained in post.
During an interview on BBC News Tory backbencher Charles Walker said the scenes were “inexcusable” and said the conduct of the government was “a shambles and a disgrace.”
Labour MP Chris Bryant had originally called for the formal investigation after he said he witnessed Tory MPs being “physically manhandled” into the government voting lobby.
However, the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said that an inquiry into the behaviour of those involved found that no bullying took place.
Speaking to the House of Commons he said: “At my instruction officials interviewed or took statements from over 40 members and officials who were there.
“The report of their investigation will be published shortly. The key findings are as follows: 'The atmosphere was tense and members were raising their voices to make themselves heard.
“But there is no evidence of any bullying or undue influence placed on other Members.
“The crowding made it hard to see what was really taking place. While some members thought that physical contact was being used to force a member into the lobby, the member concerned has said very clearly that this did not happen.
“Those with the clearest views of the incident have confirmed this.”
Defending his decision to post a photo of the incident, which goes against House of Commons rules, Bryant told the BBC: "Sometimes you have to break a rule if you see a greater injustice being done”
Liz Truss resigned as prime minister the day after the vote.
