This has happened quietly in most other Western parliaments. In the United Kingdom, however, the transition to a virtual House of Commons is an event. Returning from a month-long break, one of the world's oldest active parliaments (over 700 years old) is expected to adopt the Zoom video conferencing app and "social distancing" from April 21. Until now, the central institution of British democracy has maintained an extremely codified and still very traditional – even anachronistic – functioning.
After intense consultations, Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons announcer, decided on a hybrid system: eight screens were installed in the famous debate room, to allow up to 120 members to speak remotely. No more than 50 elected officials will be able to physically sit on its bottle green benches, including for questioning sessions with the Prime Minister, on Wednesday noon, which most of the 650 parliamentarians have attended so far (a good part remaining standing at the entrance to the hall, lack of sufficient seating).
Etiquette and dress code – mandatory jacket for men – should remain de rigueur for elected officials connected remotely
Wednesday April 22, while Boris Johnson continues his convalescence from Covid-19 to Checkers, the home of the prime ministers in Buckinghamshire, it is Dominic Raab, first secretary of state, who should replace him in the "despatch box", facing these wooden chests containing the sacred books on which the elected officials take the oath at the start of their mandate.
Etiquette and the dress code – a mandatory jacket for men – should remain a requirement for elected officials connected remotely. No untimely speaking and strict compliance with the rules of courtesy set out in theErskine May, the bible of the uses of the Parliament. For example, we address other elected officials by systematically starting with "My honorable friend" ("My honorable friend").
Beating heart of British political life
Visitors will no longer be able to attend the debates. On the other hand, the journalists of the "lobby", usually authorized to access the "gallery" fitted out for the political press just above the speaker, will once again be able to take place on its spartan wooden benches but in limited numbers (the use tablets is allowed in the gallery, but not computers or cameras). The narrow Moncrieff bar, their hideout two stories above, will remain closed.
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