The SNP has called for the virtual covid parliament, with MPs contributing remotely by video link, to be made a permanent feature of democracy.
Pete Wishart, the SNP shadow leader of the Commons, made the call on the last day that the chamber will meet under covid measures allowing MPs to contribute remotely via video link.
The Perthshire MP said the facilities had been "a great parliamentary innovation” that allowed constituents to be represented in the chamber from all parts of the UK despite lockdown restrictions.
Speaking remotely during the weekly Commons business statement, Wishart said: “It almost feels like democratic vandalism to tear them down now."
"But it also seems like madness to remove them when infections and hospitalisations are doubling weekly with the out of control Johnson variant, and we have absolutely no idea where we will be when we come back in September.”
Wishart said the Commons may need to be recalled at short notice with cases rising and supermarket shelves emptying due to a combination of covid infections and a lack of staff due to Brexit.
The SNP MP asked: “What are the provisions in place, if that is required, particularly when we might have a predicted 100,000 cases a day?"
But Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Tory leader of the Commons, replied: “ This House works better when people are here.”
The Commons leader, a traditionalist who reluctantly agreed to virtual debates and proxy voting during the pandemic, added: “We do a better job of representing our constituents and holding Ministers to account and that leads to better government. We have a duty to be back for the good of democracy.”
Wishart said he was contributing remotely on the last day of the Commons session because he would not be “coming near Covid Central in the middle of a raging pandemic”.
But as usual Rees-Mogg had a sting in his tail and hit back: “I’m sorry to tease the honourable gentleman for going on holiday a day early - but that is the effect of virtual participation.”
