[Smithy]

MPs are to return to parliament after a government motion was passed to prevent the resumption of virtual voting, despite what one MP called “absurd” scenes of a kilometre-long conga line of politicians trying to vote.

The 527 MPs snaked through Westminster halls and courtyards for an hour and 23 minutes to vote on the proposal by the Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, which was carried by 261 votes to 163. It incited a furious reaction from many MPs, including those who are shielding and black and ethnic minority (BAME) politicians

In a sombre moment in the debate that preceded the vote, the shadow Commons leader, Valerie Vaz, launched a blistering attack on the government, asking what “risk assessment” the government had done for both BAME MPs and workers in the parliament buildings.

“We are twice as likely to die,” she said, adding: “Please stop peddling the myth that we only work when we are here [in the House of Commons].”
Since 21 April a virtual parliament has allowed MPs to vote online or using their phones instead of cramming into backrooms in the House of Commons which divide the “ayes” from the “noes”.

But Tuesday’s first physically-distanced voting demonstrated how the system risked being choked, despite Rees-Mogg’s claim it would be better for democracy.

Rees-Mogg, who lives close to Westminster, questioned the democratic value of MPs who were voting on their phones or from their home offices.

“Voting while taking a sunny walk or watching television does democracy an injustice,” he told the 30 or so physically-distanced MPs present in the chamber.

Rees-Mogg claimed it was in voters’ interests to get parliament back up and running as legislation had been “clogged” with “no detailed, line-by-line consideration of bills that will affect people’s lives”.

Appalling

[LeatherTrumpet]

Jacob kicking ass

[Oliver_W]

How stupid, why shouldn't MPs be able to vote remotely? If they don't have to keep going backward and forward, they can focus more on their constituencies.

Unrelated but the BAME issue, has it been found if it's a genetic or societal thing putting them more at risk? Are they more likely to die if they have it, or more likely to catch it?

[Cherie]

I don’t understand how they can do their job properly if they are blocked from voting due to shielding ...it’s discrimination ....get the rest of them back though

[Smithy]

Tories? Discriminating? Doesn’t sound familiar to me

[Cherie]

This has been resolved now as the shielding and those who cannot return can vote via proxy

The rumblings about having to queue up to vote were shot down by Boris saying everyone else is getting back to work and has to queue for shopping etc so MPs should do so as well

[arista]

The PM has said they can Vote
by Proxy

Update your Title please

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by arista

The PM has said they can Vote
by Proxy

Update your Title please

I assume this was the idea all along as this is how MPs on maternity/paternity leave vote so it seems like a miscommunication or MPs suddenly thinking they couldn't vote

[AProducer'sWetDream]

Originally Posted by Cherie

This has been resolved now as the shielding and those who cannot return can vote via proxy

The rumblings about having to queue up to vote were shot down by Boris saying everyone else is getting back to work and has to queue for shopping etc so MPs should do so as well

People have no choice but to queue for the shop as there aren't enough delivery slots to go round. Difference is MPs could all very easily vote online.

The queue looks silly, wastes time (we are literally paying MPs to stand around waiting- I'd rather see them spend the hour on something more productive tbh), isn't safe (there were many images yesterday of MPs not keeping 2m apart).

Not to mention it's completely unnecessary! Even if you want people back to work why not let them stay in the chamber/their offices and vote online?!

[Toy Soldier]

I'm in two minds to be fair. On the one hand, I think in the modern world going forward, there's going to be a LOT more remote business and politics and it's something we should get used to (like the Jedi Council where they don't have to physically be there and can appear as holograms, I suppose).

On the other hand, I don't think we're QUITE there yet in terms of tech security, and I think governments are currently very vulnerable to technological espionage and manipulation. It's the same reason I wouldn't advocate for tech-based voting systems/vote counting just yet, even though manual vote counting obviously has its own issues.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by AProducer'sWetDream

People have no choice but to queue for the shop as there aren't enough delivery slots to go round. Difference is MPs could all very easily vote online.

The queue looks silly, wastes time (we are literally paying MPs to stand around waiting- I'd rather see them spend the hour on something more productive tbh), isn't safe (there were many images yesterday of MPs not keeping 2m apart).

Not to mention it's completely unnecessary! Even if you want people back to work why not let them stay in the chamber/their offices and vote online?!

Because you would then get the people who say they will only let their kids back to school/go back to work themselves when all MPs are back in Parliament, I think all that can be there should be there personally

[Toy Soldier]

I really don't understand why there are queues to vote when they're there in person, though?

How hard would it be for them to have a LOCALISED (a closed system, not net connected so not prone to tampering) voting system with little terminals at each seat? Quick, instant, efficient voting.

[AProducer'sWetDream]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Because you would then get the people who say they will only let their kids back to school/go back to work themselves when all MPs are back in Parliament, I think all that can be there should be there personally

But they could all be there physically and still use electronic voting, rather than wasting precious time standing in a half-mile queue. I just think they're telling us all to adapt, asking employers to make changes to make it safe, but they're not really leading by example.

[bitontheslide]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I really don't understand why there are queues to vote when they're there in person, though?

How hard would it be for them to have a LOCALISED (a closed system, not net connected so not prone to tampering) voting system with little terminals at each seat? Quick, instant, efficient voting.

that's what they do in the USA. I don't think the HoC has the seating capacity for all MP's even without social distancing so it's a non starter. Also it would show up how many of them can't be arsed to vote the majority of the time

[arista]

The Home Secretary is Live in Parliament
talking about Travel rules

[arista]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Appalling

That you can not
Edit your Wrong Title.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by AProducer'sWetDream

But they could all be there physically and still use electronic voting, rather than wasting precious time standing in a half-mile queue. I just think they're telling us all to adapt, asking employers to make changes to make it safe, but they're not really leading by example.

fair enough, maybe something for the future once the pandemic has passed, westminister is being revamped I think so maybe it is planned

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

that's what they do in the USA. I don't think the HoC has the seating capacity for all MP's even without social distancing so it's a non starter. Also it would show up how many of them can't be arsed to vote the majority of the time

Then they should give up their daft, outdated reliance on dusty old tradition and build a modern parliament building that is fit for purpose, and turn the current one into a museum. Long overdue.

[James]

I think there is something in making MPs attend the parliament to vote.

For one thing it means they can take part in live debates.

Those that are shielding can get proxy votes.

[arista]

Originally Posted by James

I think there is something in making MPs attend the parliament to vote.

For one thing it means they can take part in live debates.

Those that are shielding can get proxy votes.

Can you update the title?

As the PM has ruled they can vote, now.

[The Slim Reaper]

Oops.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Oops.

Isn’t there an incubation period of between 5 and 14 days so he probably picked it up during recess, why did he come in if he had symptoms?

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Isn’t there an incubation period of between 5 and 14 days so he probably picked it up during recess, why did he come in if he had symptoms?

Maybe it was his first day of showing today?

[Cherie]

Cal will be calling Boris to advise self isolation for 2 weeks

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Maybe it was his first day of showing today?

Either way he didn’t catch it since returning on Monday