What is it like in a socially distanced parliament?

When you see how high up the screens are for the MPs taking part remotely, you understand why ministers are forced to look right up, a bit like Oliver asking for more porridge, when replying, says

I could see when Matt Hancock, sitting two metres to Boris Johnson’s right, prompted the prime minister, or mouthed comments at Keir Starmer (UK Parliament/EPA)

It has been curious to watch the House of Commons from the press gallery this past week. There were about 10 journalists in the gallery for the prime minister’s statement on Monday and for questions on Wednesday, and about 25 MPs and officials in the chamber on each occasion.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House, says there is room for about 50 MPs under the rules for social distancing, so even under the new arrangements the chamber has been only half-full.

Most of the time, we journalists can follow proceedings just as well on video, which is why in normal times most of us watch parliament on TV from offices a few yards away from the chamber. But sometimes it is important to witness it in person.

In the gallery last week I could see when Matt Hancock, sitting two metres to Boris Johnson’s right, prompted the prime minister (hardly at all), or mouthed comments at Keir Starmer (some of the time).

I could see what the prime minister could see during his statement, which was Lisa Nandy, the shadow foreign secretary, shaking her head disapprovingly from the back of the opposition benches.

One of the things about being in the chamber is that you can see the prime minister waiting behind the speaker’s chair for the right time to enter the cockpit. On Wednesday, Johnson ruffled his hair, transferred a phone from one jacket pocket to another, and chatted to Marcus Jones, a government whip, while he waited for Robin Walker, the Northern Ireland minister, to finish.

The new rules are that the next minister to take the place on the front bench in front of the despatch box has to wait to be called, which means that even the prime minister can’t take a seat on the front bench while he waits his turn. That meant that Johnson had to go straight to the box to answer the first question and as a result couldn’t immediately find the note of his answer (“further such meetings later today”) in his folder.

It is only in the chamber that you can see how high up the screens are for the MPs taking part remotely, and why ministers are forced to look right up, a bit like Oliver asking for more porridge, when replying. If I were a media adviser to an MP speaking in the chamber, I would suggest that they address their reply to the middle of the benches opposite them.

I saw a number of not very distanced conversations going on behind the speaker’s chair, but generally there are so few people in the Palace of Westminster at the moment that it is quite easy to stay two metres apart most of the time.

Yours,

John Rentoul

Chief political commentator