House of Commons descends into chaos as Liz Truss fights for survival

Liz Truss' premiership is hanging by a thread after farcical scenes in the House of Commons amid accusations MPs were bullied into backing a Government motion.

The Government has defeated Labour's bid to ban fracking after Conservative whips initially stated the vote on whether to allocate Commons time to consider legislation to stop shale gas extraction was being treated as a "confidence motion" in Liz Truss' embattled Government.

But after a series of Tory MPs signalled they would not take part in the vote, climate minister Graham Stuart caused confusion by telling the Commons: "Quite clearly this is not a confidence vote." When Conservative MP Ruth Edwards asked to clarify if those Tories who abstain or vote against the motion will lose the party whip, Mr Stuart added: "That is a matter for party managers, and I am not a party manager."

Labour's motion was defeated by 230 votes to 326, majority 96, but the Commons heard there were "very strong rumours" the Government chief whip Wendy Morton had resigned.

Allegations of bullying were also levelled against Government whips, with Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant saying some MPs had been "physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied". He is not the only one who described Tory MPs being physically coerced into voting.

Cardiff North MP Anna McMorrin said: "Extraordinary stuff happening here during the vote on fracking which is apparently 'not a confidence vote'. I’ve just witnessed one Tory member in tears being manhandled into the lobby to vote against our motion to continue the ban on fracking."

The situation is moving very fast with Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigning as Home Secretary after a “mistake” surrounding sending an official document from her personal