Extraordinary late-night row breaks out in the House of Commons after Alex Salmond explodes at deputy speaker for cutting off SNP MP during the Brexit debate

THE HOUSE of Commons descended into a late-night slanging match after Alex Salmond was engaged in a furious row with the deputy speaker.

The former Scottish First Minister accused Lindsay Hoyle of cutting off an SNP MP during a marathon Parliamentary debate on the Brexit bill.

Tempers frayed during last night’s committee stage, which went on past midnight, as opposition parties complained of a lack of time to debate the amendments.

The disagreement came as Mr Hoyle tried to move on from SNP's Joanna Cherry, who used her speech to accuse the Government of "hubris and contempt" in its attitude to Scotland's role in Brexit.

Mr Salmond stood up and bellowed across the chamber that  the deputy speaker had cut her off and demanded she be allowed to continue, to jeers and shouts from MPs.

Ms Cherry then walked out of the chamber, and Mr Hoyle shouted: “Mr Salmond you should know better!”

The ex-SNP leader, raising a point of order, told Mr Hoyle: "It is quite clear that the honourable member had not resumed her seat, Sir.

“Being in the chair accords you many privileges but you cannot reinterpret the wishes of an honourable member who is on her feet."

An irate Mr Hoyle responded: "As the chair I have the right to make decisions on this House. What I would say is quite rightly when I wanted to bring her in, which I did.

“I certainly don't expect advantages to be taken of the chair on the agreements that I make."

Referring to the Brexit Bill, which allows Theresa May to trigger Article 50, he said: "It is a very serious matter, it is so serious that I want to hear what the minister has to say."

After the minister Robin Walker attempted to carry on he was again interrupted by Mr Salmond, who refused to sit down and let proceedings continue.

Eventually Mr Hoyle said that “tempers are running quite high, we need to just calm it down”, and repeated that he wanted to allow Mr Walker to respond to the debate, rather than be bogged down in points of order.

Earlier, Mr Salmond had claimed the debate on legislation to allow Theresa May to start formal Brexit talks was being rushed through the Commons.

SNP and Labour MPs had reacted angrily after just one vote was held on the first group of amendments to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.

But he had been accused of being “sexist” by Michael Gove after allegedly preventing a woman colleague from intervening on a speech by Tory MP Charlie Elphicke.

The former cabinet minister claimed this was done so Mr Salmond could then intervene himself during the debate on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.

Raising a point of order, Mr Gove said: "Immediately preceding the right honourable gentleman for Gordon intervening, his neighbour sought to intervene and then he moved to tell her to sit down so that he might intervene.

"Is such sexist behaviour in order in this House?"

Sir Roger Gale, the Tory MP chairing proceedings in the chamber at that time, replied: "Happily, as you know, that is not a matter for the chair."