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Conduct of remote divisions
22 April 2020
Lead MP
Lindsay Hoyle
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Parliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Lindsay Hoyle raised concerns about conduct of remote divisions in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, introduced the debate and clarified that an amendment would only be relevant if it was moved. He did not provide a detailed speech but set up the context for the discussion on remote voting proposals.
Karen Bradley
Con
Staffordshire Moorlands
Proposed an amendment to delay remote voting until after thorough scrutiny by the Procedure Committee, expressed gratitude towards the Leader of the House for addressing concerns, and committed to writing a report within two sitting days.
Valerie Vaz
Lab
Walsall South
Acknowledged the importance of securing remote voting but emphasised that it should not override the decision-making process of the House, stressed the need for security and practicality in implementing remote voting.
William Wragg
Con
Hazel Grove
Raised concerns about procedural fairness and the equal representation of Members during this period of rapid change.
Chris Elmore
Lab
Pontypridd
Defended the role of Whips in ensuring proper scrutiny while acknowledging the need for caution with remote voting measures.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasised the importance of Northern Irish MPs being able to vote on potential legislation, particularly regarding abortion laws, and highlighted the necessity of democratic principles in voting procedures.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Expressed reservations about moving too quickly with remote voting but acknowledged the Government's constructive approach to date.
Anthony Mangnall
Con
Totnes
Echoed concerns over the permanent nature of temporary measures and stressed the importance of listening to the Procedure Committee before implementing any system.
Government Response
The Minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, thanked the Chair of the Procedure Committee for not pressing her amendment. He committed that no system would be adopted without ensuring every Member's ability to vote and assured careful consideration of the committee’s findings before implementation. Emphasised the importance of procedural safeguards and thanked the shadow Leader of the House for a constructive approach during these challenging times, marking this as potentially the last physical proceedings in Parliament until 12 May.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.