Boris Johnson is under pressure to bring back electronic voting at Westminster to allow MPs to vote remotely.
Labour's Keir Starmer and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked for the Commons rule change as the new strain of coronavirus threatens to bring about a nationwide lockdown.
An electronic system was used earlier in the year when covid first struck but was replaced by an airport-style queuing system to stop MPs mixing in voting lobbies and by a system of proxy voting.
With MPs expecting to be recalled for a vote on a potential Brexit deal over the festive period the opposition have upped their demand for change.
A pilot for electronic voting was judged to have failed the last time it was tried but the Commons does operate a “hybrid” system for Commons procedures during the coronavirus lockdown, allowing no more than 50 MPs to be present in the chamber with as many as 120 more participating virtually via the Zoom video conferencing app.
In their letter the opposition parties stated: “A system that we already used earlier in the year, would further reduce the number of people who need to attend Parliament and therefore protect the staff needed to allow parliament to function.
“It is an act of recklessness to retain a system where people are still required to vote by physically walking through division lobbies, even if the proxy system has reduced the overall number of people who vote in this way.”
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, said: “The Prime Minister must take steps to ensure Parliament can function safely.
“MPs should be able to hold this UK government to account without putting their health, or the health of others, at risk.”
The SNP leader added: “With travel restrictions across the country and concerns for this new strain of Covid-19, it would be ludicrous for the Prime Minister not to allow remote electronic voting in the House of Commons.
“Many colleagues from all political parties have not been able to come into work; members who are shielding, have caring responsibilities or who cannot travel. This UK government has been disenfranchising them, and their constituents.”
