Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle Sends “Solidarity” To US Counterpart Nancy Pelosi After Rioters Trash Her Office
3 min read
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has written to his American counterpart Nancy Pelosi to express “solidarity” after her office was ransacked when pro-Trump rioters stormed Congress in Washington DC last night.
Supporters of Donald Trump broke into the Capitol Building to try and prevent Joe Biden’s election victory being ratified.
During the violent protest, rioters broke into the Speaker of the House’s private office, posing for pictures and stealing items from her desk.
One man, Richard Barnett, bragged to the New York Times about taking one of her letters and showed it to reporters outside, adding: “I wrote her a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk."
This afternoon Sir Lindsay, Speaker of the House of Commons, sent a personal note to Ms Pelosi saying: “I just wanted to express my shock at last night’s events in the Capitol, and to offer you my solidarity against such unprovoked violence.
“Seeing your office trashed in that way and its occupation by one of the rioters was particularly outrageous.
“I am just so relieved you were not hurt, although I can only imagine how violated you must feel after having a protester at your desk.”
He added: “I hope none of your personal effects were damaged, particularly the lovely picture you so proudly showed me of Churchill’s address to the joint session of US Congress in 1941, which was witnessed by your father.
“Suffice to say, you are in my thoughts and prayers - and I look forward to welcoming you to the UK later this year. With warmest wishes, Lindsay.”
After the Trump supports broke into the Capitol, the Congressional session was suspended, with politicians forced to don gas masks and hide until eventually the National Guard was deployed to restore order.
But they later came back out of recess to finish the debate on the Electoral College vote which handed Mr Biden the presidency, and voted to ratify it around 3am local time.
Ms Pelosi tweeted: “Today’s shameful assault on our democracy — anointed at the highest level of government — must not deter us from our responsibility to the Constitution.
“Tonight, we will move forward with the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election.”
The scenes in Washington drew condemnation in the UK, with home secretary Priti Patel saying Mr Trump’s comments “directly led to the violence” which saw four people die.
Her Cabinet colleague Dominic Raab welcomed Congress being able to resume proceedings to certify Mr Biden as the next president, adding: "It sends an important message that the democratic will of the US people cannot be challenged or overturned by the actions of a violent minority."
Theresa May, who had a strained relationship with Mr Trump when she was Prime Minister, tweeted: “After yesterday's disturbing scenes at the Capitol, I welcome that Congress has certified Joe Biden as the next President.
“The orderly transition of power is a hallmark of a mature democracy. There is no place for the rule of the mob.”
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