House of Commons · General Debate
16 September 2020 · 1 other contributor
Opened by Dawn Butler Lab Brent East
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Dawn Butler raised concerns about remote participation in house of commons proceedings (motion) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Ms. Butler moved a Bill to require the Leader of the House of Commons to assert the equal right of all Members to participate in proceedings and establish mechanisms for remote voting and participation, emphasising its importance during the coronavirus pandemic, economic challenges, and Brexit. She criticised the Government's decision to abolish online participation as anti-democratic and potentially illegal.
Ms. Butler argued that remote voting and participation are crucial for democracy in times of crisis, especially during the pandemic when decisions impact millions. She mentioned the Government's misuse of parliamentary privilege to prevent court intervention on this issue and highlighted the need for all constituents' voices to be heard equally.