THE first digital Prime Minister’s Questions session will be held this afternoon with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab set to stand in for Boris Johnson.
The session will also be new Labour leader Keir Starmer’s first time in the Commons as the leader of the opposition.
While up to 50 MPs will be allowed inside the Chamber, the coronavirus pandemic has led to restrictions on how Westminster can operate – meaning some MPs will be able to contribute via technology in what’s being described as a “hybrid Parliament”.
The SNP’s Westminster deputy leader Kirsty Blackman has urged the UK Government to seize the opportunity, saying it could be a “catalyst for real change”.
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She went on: “The House of Commons has never been keen to endear itself as a parliament fit for the 21st century but these vital changes in light of the coronavirus crisis highlight the opportunity for Westminster to drag itself into the present day.
“If we want to be able to make political life - elected office or those working behind the scenes - accessible for all, we have to lead by example. It’s time for Westminster to wake up to the huge potential that these changes unleash and commit to reforming the Commons for good,” she added.
The changes in the Parliament also include social distancing measures, whereby a black and yellow tape on the floor and seats marked with a no-entry sign ensures MPs stay two-metres away from one another at all times.
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg warned glitches in the new system were likely but stressed: “We must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
He added he would not have supported the measures if they were not temporary.
The arrangements will be in place until May 12 but may need to be renewed after that if lockdown is extended further than the current three-week deadline.
PMQs can be viewed at midday today on the Parliament.live website.
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