AN MP who believes he contracted coronavirus in Parliament is livid after a cabinet minister came down with symptoms in the chamber the day after the House voted to reopen.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma became visibly unwell in the House of Commons on Wednesday and has had to self-isolate and get tested for coronavirus.

There are fears he could have passed it to politicians who have been told to return to Westminster despite the coronavirus lockdown.

There are further concerns because Mr Sharma had a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor at Number 10 on Tuesday.

Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who tested positive for the virus and believes he may have contracted it in Parliament, warned of the risks earlier this week – and was scathing about the drive to send MPs back into the House.

“I was saying exactly this might happen,” he told The Argus. “If Mr Sharma tests positive there could be a real issue”.

He blamed Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has been pushing for MPs to return and drove through the Government’s ban on virtual voting.

He branded Mr Rees-Mogg a “disgrace” and said the move was “unacceptable”.

“This is all because Jacob Rees-Mogg has a pet hate of the modern world,” he said.

“If this is a scare, it should be enough to make him change his mind quickly.

“If Mr Sharma has got Covid and parts of the House have been infected then I’m afraid Mr Rees-Mogg needs to own up to that.

“I hope Mr Sharma has a very speedy recovery, and Mr Rees-Mogg has a very speedy exit from politics – he’s a disgrace.”

The potential case of Covid-19 in the chamber comes amid calls for the virtual system to return.

MPs are due to debate a motion laid down by Mr Rees-Mogg on Thursday to allow those who are shielding and those aged over 70 to vote by proxy, in a move Labour has dubbed a “U-turn” and described as “chaotic”.

Senior Conservatives, opposition groups and the equalities watchdog have raised concerns the decision to end digital voting would prevent many representatives, particularly the elderly and vulnerable ones who are shielding, from being able to vote.

The new system requires MPs to form long, socially-distant queues as they line up to vote.

Mr Russell-Moyle thought it had looked “like some weird theme park” this week.

“Lots of my colleagues were having to tell people to stand back,” he said.

“I don’t see how it can continue.”

• The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund