Voting U-turn a victory for common sense, says Jamie Stone

A U-TURN on voting procedures in the House of Commons has been hailed as "a victory for common sense" by north MP Jamie Stone.

He had claimed he was being silenced by the UK government after it announced plans to end the proxy voting which had been introduced during the coronavirus lockdown. The virtual parliament, as it was called, allowed MPs to take part in debates and vote remotely.

However, as the lockdown restrictions were eased in England, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg decided MPs would have to return to the Commons. He said members should go back to the chamber in a bid to show the same "British resolution and fortitude in these difficult times" as other workers.

Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, was concerned about the move as he is a carer for his disabled wife, Flora. He hit out at the plan and said the government was trying to silence him and claimed the virtual parliament should continue for longer.

Mr Stone was also worried about taking the virus back to the north from London.

However, after Alistair Carmichael – the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland – secured an emergency debate on the subject this week, Mr Rees-Mogg changed his view. MPs are now eligible for proxy voting if "they are unable to attend at Westminster for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic".

Mr Stone said: "As a carer, I am delighted that the government has seen sense.

"I can now carry out both my roles as a carer and as a representative of the people. But far more important is the moral victory on behalf of all carers and others who might have reasons not to make the journey to Westminster.

"This is a real step forward for representational democracy and a victory for common sense."

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