A handful of British Members of Parliament met in the House of Commons on Tuesday to approve procedures for the parliament to meet virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

By long-standing tradition, opposing MPs must speak from behind red lines which are set two sword lengths apart in front of the benches on either side of the chamber. 

This time, a more contemporary and urgent concern kept all lawmakers in the House at a safe distance from each other. Others connected via video link to witness the passing of an unprecedented motion for MPs to congregate remotely to debate and vote on bills.

The virtual parliament will meet for the first time on Wednesday 22 April, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is recuperating from COVID-19.

Almost 120 MPs are expected to grill ministers via the video conferencing platform Zoom, while an additional 50 will be physically attending at the floor of the house.

Those present will be observing strict social distancing protocols – staying six feet [1.83 meters] from one another – and others can tune in to watch their colleagues on screens.

Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, while laying out plans for the temporary "hybrid" practice, said the lower house could not let "perfect be the enemy of the good."

Apart from misgivings among MPs on how best to conduct business remotely, concerns have also been raised over Zoom, following incidents of security breaches and hackers gaining access to the platform.

The latest decision to hold parliamentary proceedings on video are part of a series of measures to ensure the UK's political establishment remains operational amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed and infected thousands of people in the country.

Virtual committee meetings, reduced sitting hours and stringent social distancing rules have been implemented within the Palace of Westminster since the outbreak.

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