Alok Sharma tests negative for coronavirus after dramatically falling ill in Commons

Business Secretary Alok Sharma has received a negative test result after being tested for coronavirus, his spokeswoman said.

Mr Sharma was self-isolating after becoming unwell while addressing Parliament on Wednesday.

She said: “Business Secretary Alok Sharma has received a negative result after being tested for coronavirus yesterday.

“Mr Sharma would like to thank the parliamentary authorities and Speaker and also for the kind words from parliamentary colleagues and others who have expressed their well wishes over the last 24 hours.”

Downing Street has said the Government was not planning to review its move to end virtual voting in the Commons after the incident.

However, had Mr Sharma tested positive for coronavirus Prime Minister Boris Johnson would also have had to self-isolate as they held a meeting in No 10 this week.

Before the result was announced Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Mr Sharma was "doing fine and still working",

Mr Shapps told the Downing Street press conference: “I have spoken to Alok within the last hour he’s doing fine, actually he’s working today – just working from home – as usual, he’s awaiting his test results.”

The Transport Secretary defended the decision to require MPs to return to Westminster rather than continue to work remotely.

He said dozens of pieces of legislation – including laws to combat coronavirus – needed to be considered by MPs.

“We simply haven’t been able to – Parliament has not been able to – pass that legislation, and that in turn, puts the whole country at risk.”

But he added that there were “strict social distancing measures in place” and the Prime Minister had “always been two metres apart from Alok Sharma”.

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