Scrapping electronic voting will turn isolating MPS into ‘eunuchs’

MINISTERS are facing a mounting backlash over the decision to scrap electronic Commons voting from next week amid claims that elderly and vulnerable MPS forced to stay at home will be rendered “parliamentary eunuchs”.

With Parliament due to return on Tuesday, the Government is to put forward proposals for alternative voting arrangements after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, ruled that the traditional division lobbies were unsafe. However, the plans do not include electronic voting, meaning that those who are MPS unable to return would effectively be disfranchised.

The decision has enraged MPS from across the Commons, with more than 50 writing to the procedure committee, which oversees Commons’ business, to oppose Parliament’s return.

The letter, which was written by Geraint Davies, the Labour MP, warned that making MPS “walk through each other’s breath in a 1.3km procession to vote is an act of gross irresponsibility”.

He said MPS also risked taking coronavirus back to their constituents.

Julian Knight, chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee, said he had written to Karen Bradley, chairman of the procedure committee, “over the effect this has on people with pre-existing condi- tions and those who are shielding”.

Meanwhile, Robert Halfon, Conservative MP and chairman of the Commons education committee, wrote in The House magazine: “If those MPS are self-isolating, shielding or sick and have to stay at home – then these very MPS will become the metaphorical equivalent of parliamentary eunuchs.”

However, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, said “other people are now starting to go back to work … we have to get on with it”.

He added that pairing was in place for those who could not come in.