Coronavirus: Commons voting procedures changed to prevent spread of virus

Move comes amid pressure to allow electronic voting in 'virtual' parliament sessions

House of Commons voting procedures are being changed to cut the risk of MPs infecting one another during the coronavirus outbreak, speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has announced.

The move came ahead of an expected announcement that parliament will close early for Easter recess on Thursday, following the passage of legislation to give ministers emergency powers to deal with the pandemic.

MPs had been due to sit until next Tuesday, but it is understood that agreement is due shortly on bringing the date forward amid widespread recognition that continued sittings appear "odd" in the light of the government's advice for workers to stay at home.

The speaker stopped short of meeting demands from Labour MPs for “virtual” sessions to allow those working from home to take part in debates and votes electronically, but he said work would take place over the recess to improve the capacity for them to participate in committee hearings via video-link.

Sir Lindsay also announced that he has banned the sale of alcohol in Commons restaurants and bars until further notice.

MPs have raised concerns that their traditional voting procedure increases the risk of contagion by forcing them into close contact as they walk through the small “Aye” and “No” lobbies on either side of the chamber over a 15-minute period.

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Over the past few days, they have been spacing themselves out on the green benches of the chamber, but it has not been possible for them to maintain two metres’ separation while taking part in votes - known as “divisions”.

In a statement to the Commons, Sir Lindsay said: “If divisions take place from today onwards, the arrangements will be modified to allow for social distancing.

“The entry of members will be staggered, with entry of different members in three alphabetical groups. A division may take 30-40 minutes to be conducted in this way.”

The speaker urged MPs to “think twice” before submitting multiple written questions.

Warning that the tabling of multiple questions was diverting civil servants away from crucial work on coronavirus, he said: “When a member puts 60 questions down, that is not helpful to the country.”

Speaking in the Commons, SNP chief whip Patrick Grady called for for the Easter recess to be brought forward to the end of this week “because the reality is that any of us that return to our constituencies from London, the epicentre of the virus, are going to have to self-isolate”.

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg replied that an early recess was “being considered”.

And in a strong hint that recess will be brought forward, he pointed out that it is “debatable” that minor legislation on issues like toilet rate relief, currently listed for debate next week, was “essential business”.

A group of 47 Labour MP has written to Boris Johnson calling for a move to electronic voting.

The letter said: "We strongly advise that parliament be conducted virtually until this crisis has abated. Our country has the technologists, innovators and creativity to make this work quickly, and MPs must not be ‘superspreaders’ of this virus and must also lead by example in working, wherever possible, from home."

In the Commons, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas called for electronic voting, saying: "It is ridiculous that we are all going to be cooped up in those lobbies."

MPs observed social distancing guidance by spacing themselves out on the Commons green benches during debate on the emergency coronavirus bill (PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

The chair of the Commons Procedure Committee, Karen Bradley, released proposals - which must be approved by the House to take effect - which would introduce changes to allow MPs to take part in select committee hearings and agree their reports remotely if necessary.

Meanwhile, campaigners from the Electoral Reform Society have written to the Commons and Lords speakers to call for the extension of proxy voting to ensure continued scrutiny of government activities as ever fewer MPs attend the House.

The ERS is also calling for written questions to replace oral questions in the chamber and for video-conferencing technology to be used by committees to allow hearings to continue without members needing to be present in Westminster.

Campaigns director Willie Sullivan said: “The 300-plus page Covid-19 emergency powers bill is to be debated in the House of Commons today – but it is unlikely to get the attention it deserves. Most MPs won't be able to attend, and with no way for those isolating to input, scrutiny could suffer.

“At times of national crisis, the need for scrutiny increases, not decreases.

“While it is vital the government are able to take the actions needed to respond to coronavirus, MPs and peers must be able to feed into the legislative process remotely in this time of crisis.

“Talk of granting powers to whips to vote on members’ behalfs, though well-intentioned, could damage democratic accountability. If enacted, there must be safeguards and guarantees to ensure these are strictly time-limited.

“We urge the House authorities allow MPs to fulfil their legislative duties in safety at home. Parliament must take the urgent steps necessary to ensure that any response to Covid-19 receives the scrutiny needed during this unprecedented time. Parliament must be not be hampered in its duties in this crucial time.”