By Ben Kerrigan-
Sir Lindsay Hoyle(pictured) opened the first day back since the Easter recess amid the coronavirus crisis as Mps resumed a hybrid Parliament that split parliamentarians in two groups: those present in the chamber and others connected via video link . Parliament will resume on Wednesday after Mps MPs approved the plan.
Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the Commons could not let “perfect be the enemy of the good”.Under the motion agreed by MPs, up to 50 MPs will be allowed inside the chamber, sitting apart from each other in line with social distancing guidelines.
Screens have been installed in the chamber which will allow up to 120 MPs to take part in debates via the Zoom video-conferencing tool.
The new arrangements will operate until 12 May, but could extend indefinitely, depending on how long the lockdown lasts. One advantage is that Mps will no longer shout in the school boy fashion that has characterised the tradition of parliamentary debates, now they are aware of the virulent effects that could arise from the pathogens from their saliva in these dark times.
MPs on the Commons benches will now use green and red symbols indicating where they should and should not sit in order to keep the recommended six feet apart.Speaking from the front bench, Mr Rees-Mogg said while business would be limited to oral questions, statements and urgent questions to begin with, the government was looking into “extending virtual ways of working and more substantive business, including legislation”.
Shadow leader of the House, Valerie Vaz, said from the Chamber that Labour “wants to engage with the government at this extraordinary time”.
Chair of the Procedure Committee, Karen Bradley, said: “There is no substitution for members being in the chamber and being able to hold the executive to account.”She said the new virtual Parliament would “lack the spontaneity” and “the ability to feed off each other” compared to normal proceedings, and it must be a temporary measure.