The SNP has come under fire for forcing five votes during England’s World Cup clash with Colombia.



The culture minister, Margot James, confronted the SNP Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, in the Commons while Douglas Ross, the Tory MP for Moray, warned the SNP’s “pathetic theatrics” affected staff in the chamber.

Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin questioned if so many votes would have taken place if Scotland were in action.

Votes on motions linked to public spending could only take place from 7pm – the kick-off time for England’s second round tie. Five votes occurred, including one regarding devolution, and took about 66 minutes.

Blackford insisted the government was responsible for the timetable and the votes represented the SNP’s only opportunity to “speak out against the continued austerity”.

He said his party were acting on their vow to use parliamentary procedure to oppose the government “every inch of the way” following a row last month over the lack of time to discuss Brexit matters linked to the Scottish parliament, branded a “power grab” by the SNP.

The government won all five votes, with the number of MPs voting in favour falling steadily from 312 to 175 as the England game progressed.

Four Plaid Cymru MPs, 28 SNP MPs and Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse were among the 33 voting against, with Labour not taking part.

During one of the votes, the Tory frontbencher James approached Blackford and the SNP Commons leader, Pete Wishart, as they chatted on their frontbench with Tory business minister Richard Harrington.

She was heard to say: “What about the people who work here?”

Jenkin earlier raised a point of order to express his frustration as MPs marched through the division lobbies for a second vote triggered by the SNP.

He asked: “Do you suppose that the Scottish National party would be calling so many divisions this evening if it were Scotland playing an important football match this evening?”

Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker, replied: “I appreciate [Sir Bernard’s] point of order which although it relates to the division is not of course a point of order. And I just have a fervent hope that one day Scotland will be playing an important football match.”

One MP could be heard saying: “I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

Several of the 35 SNP MPs were not present for much of the 90-minute debate linked to devolution, with numbers growing as it neared its conclusion.

The SNP’s Patrick Grady earlier joked: “I understand there are hoards of people around London this evening looking for 90 minutes of entertainment on a green playing field.

“Where better to look than the House of Commons? I think we’ve been thoroughly entertained and I’m sure there’s nothing else on this evening’s line-up that could be as interesting for people.”

The bell to end proceedings for the day sounded shortly after Harry Kane put England 1-0 up from the penalty spot after 57 minutes, before the team went on to go through in a penalty shootout.