We must not let virus ruin democracy – Timothy Kirkhope

In order for our constitution to work for the benefit of all, we rely on a clear structure and settled functions.

Her Majesty the Queen, the 
current Monarch, presides over us 
with great influence and commitment, but her position holds little day-to-day power.

Under her is the Executive, the Government, selected by the Prime Minister, with a large but necessarily non-political Civil Service that 
carries out instructions and implements policy.

But our democratic system then rightly demands that the two Houses of Parliament (one elected, one appointed) exercise control on behalf of the citizens over decisions taken or desired by the Government.

The logistics deployed to achieve that have relied until now on the physical meeting of the Houses, the debates, the questioning of ministers, the decisions by voting, and substantial research and investigation by many committees with expert witnesses.

This acts as a means of stopping the executive becoming too powerful and pursuing aims that have no redress.

I talk about the two Houses because sometimes the importance of the House of Lords is forgotten.

We, uniquely, have not only the power but the duty to act as a reviewing and revising Chamber and, unfettered by the pressures of MPs, an ability to ask Governments to think again.

The question is: How can the two Chambers carry out their full responsibilities under the present circumstances? It is vital that they do.

If we were faced by the Covid-19 crisis 30 or even 20 years ago, we would be in the most helpless situation.

Technology is now coming to our assistance – as evidenced this week in the Commons after the Easter recess.

The House of Commons has already held “virtual” committee meetings over Easter where MPs can join in while remaining in compliance with Government rules on isolation and the lockdown – an example was the questioning of Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week.

Now Parliament has resumed this week, a wider involvement is occurring.

It is not be the same and it is not perfect but at least most of the functions will be possible.

And in the House of Lords, we will also be able to perform many of our functions remotely.

Remembering that the average age of peers is 70, the urgency of such arrangements for the Upper House is clear.

Parliamentary rules currently 
require legislation to be dealt with
in the “old way” within the precincts and we do not (unlike the European Parliament where I served for many
years and many other legislatures in the world) yet have a solution to voting remotely.

But “necessity is the mother of invention” and I pay tribute to all the Parliamentary staff and technical advisers who have moved with great speed to make this possible.

There will be “hiccups” along the way and, just as happened when we introduced TV coverage of Parliament in the late 1980s, some MPs and even some peers may behave in a manner unsuitable to the required gravitas.

There will probably be a competition for the best “backdrop” behind colleagues in their sitting rooms or bedrooms, 
and of course we should require dress to
be “seemly” not scruffy and inappropriate.

But the key point is that Parliament,
 as a whole, must be able to carry 
out its proper functions despite the 
crisis.

If it was to be impaired, then democracy would be damaged and that remains our most vital cornerstone of freedom in spite of these grave times.

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate is a Tory peer. He is a former MP and MEP.

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