Yahoo News Silence, footballs and technical hitches: How the first 'virtual' PMQs unfolded
This was it. The first ever Prime Minister’s Question (PMQ) to be asked via video-link in the House of Commons’ 700-year history.
David Mundell, the former Scotland secretary, was primed to make history from his home in southern Scotland.
Alas...
“David Mundell has been unable to connect,” Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle announced.
It had taken just 17 minutes for the first ever virtual PMQs session to be struck by a dodgy internet connection.
Moffat not calling. Thought I would be called at end of PMQs but apparently not. Not to be first person to fall foul of technology, but here’s to better luck next time!
— David Mundell MP (@DavidMundellDCT) April 22, 2020
Sir Lindsay’s “no connection” announcement, it is safe to assume, will become familiar over the next weeks and possibly months as the Commons gets used to the new “hybrid” system during the coronavirus crisis.
The historic question instead went to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who immediately illustrated the quirks of the new system as he quizzed Dominic Raab in front of a proud display of Mitre footballs at his home.
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The taxpayer is forking out £369,267 a month for the video-link system to be maintained, but there will clearly be issues.
Just five minutes after Mundell’s connection failed him, Tory backbencher Peter Bone was cut off midway through a tirade about UK banks’ “pathetic” interest rates.
“What on earth is going on,” Bone demanded from his home in Wellingborough. “When are the banks going to act in the national interest?”
The camera then cut back to the Commons chamber, where Raab, standing in for Boris Johnson, was looking up at the newly installed TV screens as Bone continued his broadside.
One problem: there was no sound.
“Stopped in his prime,” Sir Lindsay joked as the sparsely populated chamber of about 30 MPs guffawed.
Parliamentary business has resumed amid a coronavirus landscape that would have seemed unimaginable even when the Commons was forced to rise early due to the outbreak exactly four weeks ago.
Then, with the UK two days into its lockdown on 25 March, there had been 463 deaths and 9,529 cases. By Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 18,100 with 133,495 cases.
It means that under the hybrid Parliament rules passed on Tuesday, a maximum of just 50 MPs can physically sit in the chamber at any one time.
Starmer challenges Raab on testing in first PMQs as leader
It was no surprise, then, that there was none of the usual jeering when Sir Keir Starmer – who chose to take part in person – took to the despatch box for his first PMQs as leader of the Labour Party.
The benches, meanwhile, have been decorated with ticks and crosses to guide MPs towards keeping the safe social distance of two metres apart.
Sir Keir’s deputy, Angela Rayner, chose to sit four metres away.
At the back of the chamber, Sir Keir’s predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, was also present – defying the government’s strong advice for people aged 70 or over to stay at home.
The “hybrid” Parliament, which uses the Zoom conferencing program, is set to run until 12 May, though this may have to be extended again.
Up to 120 members will be able to take part remotely.
