The UK’s first “virtual parliament” is set to open next week after MPs demanded greater scrutiny of the how the coronavirus crisis is being handled.
Ministers refused demands from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other parties to recall Parliament. It will sit from April 21 as planned, but ministers will be grilled over webcam rather than in person as the battle to stop the spread of the virus continues.
The House of Commons Commission will decide how the virtual parliament will work when it meets on Thursday. One option is for Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to sit alone in the Commons chamber with MPs participating via video link.