Proxy votes under consideration

Jacob Rees-mogg is “giving thought” to allowing a greater number of MPS to vote by proxy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Commons Leader’s commitment came yesterday as he was pressed to extend proxy voting to those who cannot attend as they are helping to shield relatives.

MPS last week approved a motion to allow colleagues to vote on their behalf if they cannot attend the Commons for medical or health reasons.

It followed the UK government’s initial decision to not seek a renewal of online voting, which prompted criticism that MPS with health concerns or disabilities were being shut out.

Speaking during an emergency debate on how the House conducts its business, Labour’s Lloyd Russellmoyle said: “All that is being asked for him is to allow those people who can’t participate because they are shielding or because they are helping to shield relatives to be able to vote.”

Mr Rees-mogg replied that the motion last week to allow those shielding to vote by proxy “meets the majority of Mr Russell-moyle’s concerns”. Labour former minister Chris Bryant said: “One of the problems with the two motions that the Leader of the House tabled last week is that they create two different categories of people who can self-certify and I hope he will return to this matter because it is a matter of concern to those who are in one category, but feel they are excluded from another.” that the industry’s ability to bounce back will be dependent on several interlinking factors, including the return of consumer confidence and demand for travel, the establishment of commonly recognised health and safety protocols and support for the travel insurance industry to ensure adequate cover is available to travellers. He said that this will require a “strategic, crossdepartmental approach” from the government.

He said: “We must restart international travel as soon as it is safe to do so, and businesses and customers would benefit from the government outlining when this is likely to happen. There are many livelihoods at stake, and bookings will only start to pick-up in earnest when people and businesses have a better idea as to what the government’s plan is to open up the UK and access to international destinations. This is going to take a coordinated approach, and ABTA will continue to do whatever it takes to assist with this process on behalf of travel agents and tour operators across the UK who are desperate for a clearer direction for travel.

“Of course, safety must absolutely come first, which is why the government also needs to set out clearly the relevant scientific advice and epidemiological factors informing decisions, including the quarantining policy before its review in three weeks.”

Lucy Moreton, professional officer at the Immigration Services Union, said Border Force staff checking quarantine papers were “angry” at the way they were being treated.

She said that technical papers explaining to staff what to check for only arrived on Friday, and were still not available to those operating on the front line of the devolved administrations, includign Scotland.

Ms Moreton added: “This does appear to be very shambolic and they don’t want to be blamed for that.”

In Scotland, people who breach self-isolation rules could be fined £480.

Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are, as a country and across the world, continuing to deal with unprecedented challenges that this pandemic brings. These public health measures will play an important part in helping to prevent further spread of the disease. These steps are aimed at protecting people and ensuring that we limit spread when our own infection rates are falling.”