Barry Sheerman: Parliament looks 'foolish' in scrapping virtual sittings

Mr Sheerman, who is shielding at home and cannot attend Parliament, said he had been one of the most active MPs, and that the virtual system where MPs could take part in debates and vote had been working perfectly well.

MPs voted to end virtual proceedings on Tuesday, despite many of them complaining of queuing for up to a kilometre to vote to allow for social distancing rules.

And Harlow MP Robert Halfon was among the senior Tories who say the move will turn individuals who, like him, are shielding and those who are ill or self-isolating into “parliamentary eunuchs”.

Join our new coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get it

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg has faced calls to resign over his handling of the House of Commons' return during the Covid-19 pandemic yesterday, while Liberal Democrat former minister Alistair Carmichael likened the scene to "exercise hour in a category C prison for white collar criminals".

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle later granted Mr Carmichael's application for an emergency debate on how the Commons operates during the coronavirus outbreak, with the discussion scheduled for Monday.

Labour’s Mr Sheerman, 79, said: “Up until last week, I still was one of the most active parliamentarians.

“I've been the longest continuous serving MP on the opposition benches and so, for me, I was able under the old rules to ask questions, I could participate in debates.

“I was very active even though I couldn't go into the chamber itself and of course I could vote remotely.”

He added: “The balance was absolutely right to me and then to see that suddenly withdrawn seem to be very undemocratic.”

"I think with the debacle this week, the mother of parliaments has been made to look so foolish."

The row came as Business Secretary Alok Sharma tested negative for coronavirus, having gone into self-isolation on Wednesday after he was taken ill.

The Government yesterday tabled motions to allow virtual participation for those who cannot attend for medical or health reasons - and to extend proxy voting to them, which were later approved by MPs.

Mr Rees-Mogg added: "I'm always open and always have been open to listening to any suggestions that MPs have to make."

For Labour, Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz earlier said: "That image of our Parliament is going to live with this Parliament forever. Time-wasting, shambolic, breaking the rules, putting people's lives at risk."

Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "How can we look teachers in our constituencies in the eye when we're asking them to go back to work and we're saying we're not willing to?"

-----------------------

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor