Is Commons old-fashioned? Aye and No

THE antiquated traditions of the Commons, some of which are not that old at all, have many critics.

But after a night like the last one, when the prospect of Theresa May’s first defeat left the air thick with tension, who now would call for reform in the shape of sterile, electronic card voting?

Having to physically pass through the voting lobby, the long wood-panelled corridors on either side of the Commons chamber and be separated, like sheep from goats, in the ayes and nos gives our MPs and democracy itself a flesh-on-flesh accountability.

It takes few doubts, some courage, to go against tribal instincts, loyalty and career prospects to defy your own party whip.

There can be occasional mistakes, like the infamous “jobby-in-the-lobby” incident when the SNP’s Angus MacNeil ended up in the wrong place and quickly locked himself in a nearby toilet to avoid being dragged to vote by boisterous Labour MPs.

But most of the time it just works.

The real arm-twisting comes before the vote, of course, with party whips using every means of persuasion to keep MPs in line.

One Tory MP was reduced to tears this week by the alleged bullying behaviour of whips.

The caught-on-camera sight of former chief whip Gavin Williamson, he of the tarantula spider on the desk reputation, sidling chummily up to newbie MP and potential rebel Paul Masterton just before the vote was enough to make the blood freeze.

But Masterton had told the whips earlier that he would abstain. Williamson was, apparently, just checking he was okay after such a tough day wrestling with the decision (aye, right).

They call Masterton “the Bounty Boy” now, as he’s not up to the rank of being a full mutineer.