JACOB Rees-Mogg is under increasing pressure to resign over the shambolic return of MPs to Parliament amid fears that the move is endangering lives and harming democracy.
The Commons Leader was challenged by Labour about the long queues MPs had to form to vote, dubbed the "coronavirus conga", while LibDem former minister Alistair Carmichael likened the scene to "exercise hour in a category C prison for white collar criminals".
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle later granted Carmichael's application for an emergency debate on how the Commons operates during the coronavirus outbreak, with the discussion scheduled for Monday.
Complaints have been made about requiring members to travel across the UK to attend Westminster in person after the Government dropped virtual proceedings, which had allowed them to contribute remotely via Zoom and vote online.
Social distancing requirements limit MP numbers in the chamber to 50 and Business Secretary Alok Sharma left a Commons debate on Wednesday to undergo a coronavirus test after being taken ill.
The decision to end remote voting had already been condemned by SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsty Blackman, as well as LibDem MP Daisy Cooper, who blasted Rees-Mogg for “bringing the House into disrepute, and needlessly putting lives at risk”.
READ MORE: Tories face furious backlash over Commons farce after minister falls ill
Speaking in the Commons today, Labour's Angela Eagle said: "The current Leader of the House is rapidly building a strong claim to the title of the worst holder of the job in living memory. He is supposed to be the voice of the Government and the Commons in Government as well as a member of the Government and he's failing dismally at that task.
"He illegally shut down Parliament, then unilaterally abolished the perfectly fair system of electronic voting and hybrid proceedings developed to ensure at least some scrutiny of the Government during the pandemic."
The SNP’s Patrick Grady added later that too many members are being "actively excluded" by the UK Government's refusal to allow MPs to participate remotely.
Social distancing measures require MPs to join a queue, keep two metres apart, walk through the Commons chamber and announce their vote.
On Tuesday, the queue stretched for several hundred metres, snaking throughout the parliamentary estate, with the first vote running for 46 minutes.
MPs also complained about a “logjam” in Parliament making it impossible for representatives to maintain social distancing as huge queues built up during votes.
More pics of the logjam earlier when MPs pouring down Portcullis House escalators crashed into the back of the voting queue & could neither go forward or back. Rees Mogg passed during this crush & I told him he was a disgrace. #covid19UK pic.twitter.com/lPxz7rx8YJ
— Ben Bradshaw (@BenPBradshaw) June 2, 2020
READ MORE: Alok Sharma was at No 10 the day before showing Covid-19 symptoms
Eagle referred to the "coronavirus conga" and warned it put at risk the health of MPs and parliamentary staff, adding Rees-Mogg's "arrogance" was to blame.
She went on: "Can he show some bravery and make time next week for us to debate his disastrous record and perhaps even call for his resignation?"
Rees-Mogg replied: "What she has said is so overcooked, exaggerated, we poor members, we couldn't queue for a little time to do our public duty, how hard was it.
"It was very amusing reading in The Times how some members were quite incapable of walking in the right direction, but I think that's more their problem than mine."
Rees-Mogg, asked how adjustments will be made to help disabled MPs, said: "MPs with health concerns will need to make their own decisions about what is appropriate for them."
He added the Government has tabled motions to allow virtual participation for those who cannot attend for medical or health reasons and to extend proxy voting to them, adding: "I'm always open and always have been open to listening to any suggestions that MPs have to make."
Labour shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz earlier said: "That image of our Parliament is going to live with this Parliament forever. Time-wasting, shambolic, breaking the rules, putting people's lives at risk."
Rees-Mogg replied: "How can we look teachers in our constituencies in the eye when we're asking them to go back to work and we're saying we're not willing to?"
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