Six Things We Learned From the U.K. Parliament’s Virtual Return

(Bloomberg) --

The U.K. Parliament returned to work after officials adapted the centuries-old legislature to the world of Covid-19. Wednesday saw Prime Minister’s Questions, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab standing in for the still-recovering Boris Johnson, and a statement on coronavirus from Health Secretary Matt Hancock. With the maximum occupancy of the chamber restricted to 50, most of the questions were asked remotely via Zoom. What did we learn?

1. Parliament can provide scrutiny

Britain has been subject to restrictions unprecedented in peacetime for almost a month, but members of Parliament have been unable to challenge or question any aspect of the coronavirus response. Daily press conferences have been a poor substitute for detailed scrutiny, partly because ministers take Parliament more seriously, but MPs also ask about the specific needs of their communities. There were questions about help for everything from restaurants to zoos.

2. Starmer is good at scrutiny

New Labour Leader Keir Starmer entered the House of Commons slightly diffidently, creeping along the opposition front bench five minutes before he was due to start. With the chamber almost empty, there was none of the roar of support a party leader would usually get on their first outing. But, once on his feet quizzing Raab, he appeared confident. His said his goal was “constructive opposition,” but he quickly showed he can be spiky. His predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, struggled to think on his feet and rarely made prime ministers uncomfortable. Starmer, a former prosecutor, came back at Raab’s answers with cross-examination about “the reality on the ground.” As he highlighted flaws in the government’s approach, his tone was disappointment, rather than anger. Johnson, watching from his country residence, will have had food for thought.

3. The U.K. sees contact tracing as a route out of the lockdown

Given the number of press conferences Hancock has appeared at in recent weeks, including one on Tuesday evening, it was reasonable to expect he had little new to say to Parliament. But, perhaps because he was facing MPs, he did reveal something as he talked at length about efforts to establish so-called contact tracing for people infected with Covid-19. It was clear it’s the way ministers hope to ease the lockdown without a surge of new infections. Hancock said a phone app to tell people they’d been close to an infected person would be ready in “a matter of weeks.”

4. Ministers are getting ready for the public inquiry

Raab, when challenged, refused to agree to a full public inquiry into the government’s handling of the virus. That decision is one for Johnson to take. But in his answer, Raab laid out the lines of defense ministers will use: There are “lessons to be learned,” the government faces “an unprecedented challenge on an unprecedented scale” and has been following “the scientific advice” to do “the right thing at the right time,” he said.

5. The virtual chamber changes things

It’s not just that black-and-yellow safety tape has appeared on the carpet between the thick red lines -- traditionally two sword-lengths apart -- which separate government and opposition MPs, or that screens hang throughout the chamber, showing the faces of distant colleagues. Sitting in their offices, studies, or spare bedrooms, MPs forgot the formality of the proceedings. At one point, talking about funding for Wales, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart talked about “two billion quid,” before correcting himself to “pounds.” There was much less heckling than usual, though Labour’s Maria Eagle maintained an effective solo effort during Raab’s answers. The quiet put much more focus on what was actually being said. For Starmer, used to addressing a courtroom, it might work quite well. Those like Johnson, who rely on whipping up supporters, could find it harder work.

6. Answers to questions for lockdown quizzes

First minister to answer parliamentary questions remotely: Simon Hart

First MP to ask a remote question: Marco Longhi

First MP to ask a Prime Minister’s Question remotely: Ian Blackford

First MP to fail to ask a PMQ remotely because of technical problems: David Mundell

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