To think MPs falling asleep in the House of Commons is unacceptable?

[WaryGreenMentor]

I sometimes watch debates where they’re discussing huge policy changes that affect millions of people and there’s an MP literally asleep! Regardless of party, shouldn’t we expect the people running the country to at least stay awake during major discussions?

I agree, it’s disgraceful. In most jobs you’d be facing disciplinary action for it.

Totally agree. They’re being paid from the public purse, they should not be sleeping on the job.

Totally agree!

Can you imagine going to work as a teacher, nurse, check-out assistant, driving instructor, receptionist or whatever and just falling asleep!! You'd be written for a disciplinary in the blink of eye.

Are you sure they are asleep? There are speakers in the top part of the chairs which some MP's need to use to hear whats going on - its an incredibly noisy chamber when things are kicking off. It can look like they are asleep but they're actually listening to the speakers.

They fall asleep in the House of Lords all the time!

I once heard that they have speakers built in to the furniture so they’re not asleep, just trying to listen.

Totally agree. Paid by the public, to act for the public... but just sleep. Anyone else would be sacked.

This. The sound that we hear is much clearer because there are microphones hanging from the ceiling. The acoustics are awful. MPs often lean back and close their eyes to concentrate on a speech.

I’m sure that’s true in some cases but I’ve definitely seen a few who look properly slumped or head-nodding mid-debate and it’s hard to believe that’s just active listening. Even if it’s noisy or long-winded, it still feels a bit off when the visual suggests disengagement, especially during major debates. Optics matter too.

I’m sure there are some post-prandial slumps at times and I do agree it’s not a good look when that happens. I think it’s the exception though. The Lords has a few more chronic nappers, possibly because of the age profile.

Which MP's have you seen asleep @WaryGreenMentor

Some of them I would welcome a period of silence from. Asleep or not.

I used to work in Palace of Westminster and can confirm that there are speakers in the seats.

That doesn't mean some of them aren't asleep, just to say some of them are actually listening to the debate.

Neither MPs nor Lords are “running the country” unless they are ministers. The large majority of them have no power at all other than the ability to be one of 650 votes on legislation where the outcome of the vote is a fete a complis due to huge gov majority.

I accept that doesn’t mean they can sleep on the job but it’s important to recognise what their job is.

i wouldn’t be an MP for a million pounds. They have to live away from home, work late into the night, be harassed on the street when in their consistency, worry about their safety and the safety of their families, be nice to totally unreasonable constituents who want them to act on things they have no power over. I might have trouble staying awake in a long debate too if I was dealing with all that.

I’m gonna say that at my next Teams call - “I may look asleep but rest assured I am in fact implementing a strategy to heighten my concentration, please do proceed!” 😅

I always thought they were pretending to be asleep to make a passive-aggressive point that they thought whatever was being talked about was boring. Who could sleep through all that racket? I didn't know about the speakers in the chairs though.

Curious to know who's been asleep

Honestly, I used to think the same! Like it was some kind of weird old-school protest “I’m so bored by your policy proposal I’ve chosen unconsciousness.” But yeah, someone else mentioned the speakers too, which I didn’t know about. Still, even if they’re not technically asleep, the optics aren’t great when half the room looks half-dead during debates that affect people’s lives.

Oh bless them, they are probably exhausted from their second jobs/non executive directorships/writing articles for the Spectator.

I have no idea. There's like 600+ of them in there (I think?) and I couldn't tell you who was who apart from those who've been in the news a lot. I also don't really watch the HoC debates that often. But when I do, I've definitely seen a few backbenchers positioned the way OP describes.

Well..Jacob Rees Mogg as Leader of the House lay across a bench pretending (or was actually) asleep during a very important debate on Brexit.
Such arrogance

Worse than sleeping, is not turning up. Like Farage. It’ll be interesting to see if voters decide next time that it doesn’t matter. It does, obviously.

I once went to an event where an MP/former minister was speaking on a panel. He fell asleep several times while other people were speaking.

Image shows the built in speakers in the backs of the benches:

I’ve listened to quite a few debates in the commons and some of the speeches are enough to send you asleep. Not everyone has good oratory skills.