Alok Sharma may have been suffering from 'severe hayfever' when he became unwell, Brandon Lewis suggests

Alok Sharma may have been suffering from “severe hayfever” when he became visibly unwell in the House of Commons, a Cabinet colleague has suggested.

The Business Secretary rushed home to self-isolate after he struggled during a speech at the despatch box on Wednesday. He was later tested for coronavirus.

But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told BBC Radio 4's today Programme on Thursday: “I don’t want to be premature because Alok – who I wish well and hope he recovers quickly – may well have had severe hayfever, we’re not sure yet.

“He has had a test, he is self-isolating to take the correct precaution.”

Mr Lewis denied that Mr Sharma’s case supported the argument for the resumption of virtual voting in the Commons, rather than forcing MPs to travel to Westminister.

He said: “It is important for parliamentarians to be able to properly scrutinise legislation, not just for Covid but for the wider legislative agenda we have to continue with for people across the country, but to do so within proper guidelines.

“That’s what the House authorities have set up, that’s what’s been working over the last few days and that’s a very good thing.

“It highlights Alok’s situation, if he has got coronavirus, why it is so important that if you are in a work environment, you have got to follow the guidelines.”

Mr Sharma's suspected case of Covid-19 came a day after MPs approved the Government’s plan to end remote voting.

A spokeswoman for Mr Sharma said: “Secretary of State Alok Sharma began feeling unwell when in the chamber delivering the second reading of the Corporate Governance and Insolvency Bill.

“In line with guidance he has been tested for coronavirus and is returning home to self-isolate.”

During the debate, he was seen wiping his face with a handkerchief several times and his opposite number in Labour’s shadow cabinet, Ed Miliband, passed him a glass of water at one point.

A House of Commons spokeswoman said “additional cleaning” had taken place following the suspected case of Covid-19.

Labour shadow minister Toby Perkins had raised concerns over Mr Sharma’s appearance in the Commons earlier in the day, and later doubled-down on his criticism after learning of the test.

“This is ridiculous. It was clear that Alok Sharma looked unwell,” he said.

“If there are now fears that he may have Covid-19 and he hadn’t already tested negative, it was the height of irresponsibility for him to be in Parliament sniffling, sweating and snorting from the despatch box.”

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