UK Speaker: We can’t let mob rule smash democracy

Addressing the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, Hoyle said: “That was mob rule taking over, trying to smash democracy. These people don’t believe in our values, they don’t believe in democracy. You know, the fact is that if we haven’t got democracy, we have dictatorship. That is never the answer.”

Hoyle has experienced homegrown terror in his own parliament. On March 22, 2017, Hoyle — then Deputy Speaker — suspended a sitting of the House of Commons as a terror attack unfolded in Westminster. Five people died, including a police officer, after the lone attacker mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, rammed his car into railings outside the Houses of Parliament and embarked on a stabbing rampage.

“I was sat in the chair that day. To be tapped on the shoulder to say there’s a policeman dying on the cobbles of Parliament is something I never want to go through again,” Hoyle said.

“The tragedy of losing a rising star of this Parliament sent shockwaves, not just in this country but right around the world, to say: this is not just (a) perceived threat,” said Hoyle, who was elected speaker by his fellow MPs in November 2019. “That was the real start of shock.”

“Women MPs get the worst of it. The worst brunt of that goes to female ethnic MPs as well. The fact that they feel real threats and real threats of violence against them, that’s not acceptable,” said Hoyle. “When an MP says to me, ‘Lindsay, I don’t think I’m going to stand again. I don’t feel safe. My family must come first,’ I know we’ve got to do more.”

Hoyle also spoke to CNN about current mistrust toward politicians and the bitter rhetoric of political debates.

Asked how the issue should be handled — with opposition allegations of lying extending to Prime Minister Boris Johnson — Hoyle said he was unable to address it despite holding the most authority in the chamber.

“I haven’t got the power. They want me to be an impartial speaker. So, it’s a political judgment (that) says ‘that’s a lie,'” Hoyle said. “If they want a political speaker — say so — make me a political speaker.

“Speaker Pelosi is very political, but I haven’t got the same power … Not saying I would refuse it. In fact, it’s very tempting to be able to give me that political power as well. But what I promised was to be impartial. It’s my impartiality that I have to protect.”

When asked if he thinks considers behavior in parliament is improving, Hoyle said he genuinely thinks it is getting better.

“Of course, we’re going to have division of views. That’s what politics is all about,” said Hoyle. “I don’t want them all to agree with each other. That would be pretty boring for me as well. So, it’s about having excitement in the chamber, but it’s also about controlling that excitement as well.”