SNP accused of forcing votes to interrupt MPs from watching England’s game

Sky News: The SNP have defended themselves after they were accused of forcing a series of parliamentary votes to interrupt MPs from watching England’s crucial World Cup match against Colombia.

As football fans across the country settled down to watch Gareth Southgate’s team in action in Russia, MPs trooped in and out of the voting lobbies five times from 7pm, in a process taking around 66 minutes.

It led Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin to raise a point of order, asking: “Do you suppose that the SNP would be calling so many divisions this evening if it were Scotland playing an important football match this evening?”

After the voting was concluded, past 8pm, fellow Tory MP Douglas Ross berated the “pathetic theatrics” of SNP MPs, after Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing twice had to ask House of Commons officials to investigate a delay in the Noe lobby, through which the SNP were walking.