Motion text
That this House notes the success of the electronic voting system used by hon. Members in the House of Commons during the first national lockdown to prevent the spread of covid-19 in 2020; notes that MPs who need or want to avoid long distance travel currently have no choice but to use the proxy voting system; believes the proxy system is not the best system for voting in the House of Commons when large numbers of MPs have to use it for a prolonged period of time; further notes that electronic voting is safer than the proxy voting system which results in more hon. Members travelling to London and back; notes the proxy voting system allows an individual whip to cast the votes of 100s of backbenchers at a time and that a recent list indicated that the Government’s Deputy Chief Whip was designated to cast proxy votes for 315 MPs; is concerned that used in this way, this is a method of voting that risks the transfer of a degree of power to the whips over voting decisions of backbenchers; hopes the Government does not wish to be seen to be marking its own homework; believes the re-introduction of electronic voting for MPs would be healthier for the democratic scrutiny of the Government as well as being more covid-secure; and calls upon the Government to reinstate electronic voting in divisions for the duration of national lockdown.
Signatures (24)
The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.
Lucas, Caroline
Green Party
Signed on
6 January 2021
Ribeiro-Addy, Bell
Labour
Signed on
6 January 2021
Davey, Ed
Liberal Democrat
Signed on
11 January 2021
Saville Roberts, Liz
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
6 January 2021
Hanna, Claire
Social Democratic & Labour Party
Signed on
6 January 2021
Thompson, Owen
Scottish National Party
Signed on
6 January 2021
In addition to the sponsors, the following Members have signed to support the motion.
Ferrier, Margaret
Independent
Signed on
11 January 2021
Hanvey, Neale
Scottish National Party
Signed on
11 January 2021
Edwards, Jonathan
Independent
Signed on
11 January 2021
Lake, Ben
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
11 January 2021
McDonnell, John
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Williams, Hywel
Plaid Cymru
Signed on
11 January 2021
Bonnar, Steven
Scottish National Party
Signed on
11 January 2021
Barker, Paula
Labour
Signed on
11 January 2021
Shannon, Jim
Democratic Unionist Party
Signed on
11 January 2021
Lewis, Clive
Labour
Signed on
12 January 2021
Grady, Patrick
Scottish National Party
Signed on
12 January 2021
Webbe, Claudia
Independent
Signed on
13 January 2021
Bardell, Hannah
Scottish National Party
Signed on
13 January 2021
Thewliss, Alison
Scottish National Party
Signed on
13 January 2021
Fellows, Marion
Scottish National Party
Signed on
14 January 2021
Butler, Dawn
Labour
Signed on
18 January 2021
Farry, Stephen
Alliance
Signed on
18 January 2021
Burgon, Richard
Labour
Signed on
1 February 2021
There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.