SCREAMING BLUE MURDER
Tory chaos during fracking vote as MP ‘physically manhandled’ and whips tried to quit in shocking Commons scenes
A COMMONS mutiny forced Liz Truss into another humiliating U-turn last night after she tried to make her MPs back fracking.
Discipline broke down as allegations were made of a Tory MP being physically manhandled to vote as the day descended into farce.
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A photo showed wavering MPs being harassed, having earlier been told it was a “confidence” vote — meaning the Government could fall if they lost.
Ms Truss looked on ashen-faced and remained tight-lipped as chaos reigned.
But just minutes before MPs were due to vote, Climate Minister Graham Stuart indicated there had been a major climbdown and it was not a confidence vote.
Last night there was confusion over whether Chief Whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker had quit their roles amid the voting muddle.
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Mr Whittaker came out of the voting lobby and was reportedly heard saying: “I am f***ing furious and I don’t give a f*** any more.”
Downing Street later confirmed that both Ms Morton and Mr Whittaker remained in post.
Labour MP Chris Bryant claimed Deputy PM Therese Coffey and Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg were among a gang putting pressure on MPs when they went to vote.
Former Labour minister Mr Bryant, who said some MPs had been "physically manhandled" on Wednesday, said he saw up to 20 MPs all "surrounding a couple of Conservative MPs who were wavering as to how they should vote".
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Mr Bryant told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It was very aggressive, very angry, there was a lot of shouting, there was a lot of pointing, gesticulating, there was at least one hand on another MP, and to me that was clear bullying, intimidation."
He added: "I saw a whole swathe of MPs effectively pushing one member straight through the door and I've seen photographic evidence of one MP's hand on another."
Mr Bryant said other Labour and Conservative MPs have said to him that it was "clearly manhandling".
Mr Bryant, who published a photo of the chaos, said it “looked like bullying” and called for an inquiry.
He told Sky News one MP, Alex Stafford, had been “physically manhandled” into the “no” lobby.
He added: “There was a bunch of Conservative members obviously completely uncertain whether they were allowed to vote with Labour.
“There was a group including several Cabinet ministers who were basically shouting at them.
“At least one member was physically pulled through the door into the voting lobby. That is completely out of order.
“I know that Therese Coffey was in the group. I know that Jacob Rees-Mogg was in the group and there were others as well.
“The group all moved forward with one member. It was Alex Stafford. He was to my mind physically manhandled into the lobby.”
SNP MP David Linden said he witnessed the scenes and said it was “utterly, utterly appalling behaviour and makes a total mockery of democracy”.
Mr Stafford said there were “lots of rumours” flying about.
He said: “I had a frank and robust conversation confirming my opposition to fracking, with members of the Government, nothing more, reconfirming my position which I spoke about in the Chamber this evening.”
Sources close to Ms Coffey denied manhandling anyone and Mr Rees-Mogg said it was wrong to characterise events as bullying.
The chaos led to veteran Tory MP Charles Walker revealing his embarrassment at the operation inside No10 — saying that 200 of his colleagues will lose their seats without change.
He blasted colleagues, saying: “I really shouldn’t say this but I hope those people that put Truss in No10, I hope it was worth it for the ministerial red box.
“Because the damage they have done to our parliamentary party is extraordinary.”
The Government eventually won the vote, with MPs voting 326 to 230 to reject the Labour call to ban fracking.
The incredible scenes came after Downing Street had earlier committed to raising pensions in line with inflation — after signalling the cast-iron manifesto pledge could be scrapped.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had suggested the triple-lock pension guarantee could be axed amid a public finance black hole after the mini-Budget.
But in a surprise move at a make-or-break Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Truss said: “We’ve been clear in our manifesto we will maintain the triple lock. I’m completely committed to it.”
The shock climbdown blindsided MPs as just hours earlier No10 was refusing to rule out a real-terms pay cut for 12million OAPs as part of Mr Hunt’s cost-cutting drive.
The Sun can reveal that Ms Truss was still threatening to break the manifesto pledge as late as Monday night when she hosted a private drinks reception of Tory MPs at Downing Street.
But according to one attendee, she was told bluntly she did not command enough MPs’ support to get it through the Commons.
With her back against the wall, weakened Ms Truss met Mr Hunt yesterday morning telling him the triple lock is now off the table.
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Her rare flash of authority risks testing her relationship with Hunt, who agreed to take the Treasury job on the assurance he will have licence to balance the books.
And it puts pressure on the pair to link benefits rises to inflation on October 31.
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