CONSERVATIVE MPs and ministers have been slapping colleagues on the back and standing immediately next to other MPs, a Labour representative has alleged.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, MP Chris Bryant was audibly angry as he explained scenes he had witnessed in the House of Commons lately.

Discussing Boris Johnson’s flouting of hygiene guidance at the very start of the pandemic – the Prime Minister infamously boasted that he had been shaking hands with Covid-19 patients – with presenter Emma Barnett, Bryant claimed senior Tories continue to ignore the rules.

Across the UK social distancing rules differ, but people are required to always be from one-two metres away from people not within their own household regardless of which nation they reside in as part of efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Bryant told the programme: “I see this in Parliament at the moment. Tory MPs, everywhere, flouting all the social distancing rules.

“Slapping you on the back, standing immediately next to you, the number of times I’ve had to say to Tory MPs ‘I’m sorry could you please back off’.”

The presenter asked the Rhondda MP whether Tories had been more likely to engage in this behaviour than Labour figures. He said that was the case.

“My experience is that Labour MPs are much keener on maintain that distance,” he claimed. “I’ve only ever been slapped on the back by Tory MPs including government ministers.

“I have said to several government ministers ‘please back off’.”

Barnett was shocked as he made the allegation and asked him to repeat his claim.

“All you had to do was watch us voting yesterday evening – it was preposterous that the Government insisted we had to have in-person voting through the lobbies,” Bryant told her.

“We walk through and everybody’s standing next to each other.”

The MP also claimed: “There are other MPs who are not coming to Parliament anymore because that’s been happening.”

He added that in the Commons tea room he had experienced staff complaining to him that Tory MPs had been moving chairs next to one another against distancing rules.

Bryant said in his experience asking MPs and ministers to step further away led to them backing off – but claimed none had apologised to him.

He also called for masks to be used when voting, as social distancing can be difficult when moving through the lobbies.

The UK Government confirmed yesterday that face coverings will be mandatory in England’s shops from later this month.