Alok Sharma self-isolating, awaiting Covid19 test, gave statement in Commons today

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

This is appalling. I hope he isn't too unwell and makes a rapid recovery, of course, but this is on JRM and the PM. Those scenes from the Commons yesterday were just ridiculous and those MPs are now fanning out across the country going back to their constituencies.

'Hayfever' doesn't bring on the sweats. Sneezing, coughs, streaming eyes, yes, but I've never heard of sweats/fever being a symptom.

Well, not unless they've been closer than 2m for at least 15 min, which they probably haven't

How are they doing Cabinet meetings at the moment?

@FliesandPies

Everything Rees-Mogg touches goes to shit, he manages to out-disgrace even this total disgrace of a government. What is point of keeping this moron around?

I read that as Heron.

And yes, what is the point of JRM?

Or what about in the queue to vote - that took more than 15 minutes and who knows if they all abided by the 2m rule?

ffs, I just knew they would try that 'hayfever' bullshit. They're going to make damn sure he 'hasn't got' CV, even if he tests postive..

I read that as Heron
An actual Heron could probably do a better job..

Hayfever my arse.

Did they scrub down the dispatch box after him? I'd hate to be the next person to have to stand there.

I suffer very very badly from hay fever - I never sweat with it. Just sneeze, a lot. Sound really snotty and have itchy eyes....

It's been a while since I practised medicine, but I'm sure his symptoms don't meet the profile of hay fever.

Ridiculous
The guidelines are changing too fast
Boris goes back on his own words weekly
Economy over lives
I've just read he now wants hairdressers to open earlier than planned
We can all see he needs a restyle but it's not worth it when the R rate is close to 1

Why does Rees Morgue get to insist that all MPs come to parliament to continue tradition?
What is Boris actually doing as he is seemingly allowing others to do his job and make decisions for him?

Apparently he had a 45-min meeting with Bojo and Rishi Sunak prior 🙄 If only there was some way they could have all spoken while being in their homes 🤔🤔🤔🤔

@hopefulhalf

Is it 2m across the dispatch box ? Does look it, but I might be wrong.

Someone once told me the distance between the lines is 2 sword lengths. So that MPs couldn't attack each other in the days when gentlemen wore swords.

No idea if it's true.

Scarf If only Alexander Graham Bell had invented the telephone...oh, wait.

whatshe
www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/architecture/palacestructure/churchill/
During debates, members speaking on opposing sides are also not meant to step over the red lines on the carpet, which are said to equal two sword lengths.

No idea if it's true

That sounds like something I've heard - and it's the kind of thing that sounds like it could be true.

Sky News Breaking @SkyNewsBreak
Downing Street says prime minister Boris Johnson met business secretary Alok Sharma, who is self-isolating, in person yesterday for 45 minutes during a meeting with chancellor Rishi Sunak and adds that the meeting was socially distanced

So will it be Rishi next.....

At the end of PMQ's on Wednesday Boris didn't socially distance with 3 other men and for someone who was so poorly with Covid you'd think that it's something he would make sure he follows. I looked on YouTube and only managed to get a screen shot of him standing next to the first man, the other two men (the one coming down the stairs in the background and the one on the same row as Boris) came seconds later where they stand talking but YouTube cuts to Big Ben so it's not actually Caught on camera but was on live tv.

For some reason I can't post pictures the paper lip icon has disappeared

MPs queueing for hours to vote is a waste of time and money. When it can be done remotely.

If Rees Morgue wants something- then I can safely assume it is not in the publics interests.

I have never sweated with hayfever. (I had possible Covid- sweated a lot with that)

@Frazzled2207
" Apparently he was in parliament and feeling dodgy on Tuesday too."
How do you know this? Reports I have read state he took ill whilst in parliament on Wednesday and that he had a socially-distanced meeting the previous day (no reports that he was ill then) with the PM.

@OneJump
"It's fucking insanity that Rees Morgue has called them back when they had a perfectly workabke wfh solution in place.2
It isn't a perfectly workable solution though. JRM spoke in parliament today and was explaining how behind they are in terms of normal business they carry out. He asked people on the opposition benches which bills they would like to be left out if they do not attend parliament. (he named some of the bills that require passing. e.g. The Domestic Abuse bill 2020).

Normally they would have very lengthy debates during the bills which isn't really facilitated by wfh.

He also explained how the cleaners have been carrying on with their work throughout the lockdown and now are cleaning the despatch box in between debates etc including a special clean after Alok Sharma became ill yesterday.

JRM also said that it isn't right to expect the public to queue when parliamentarians don't have to. I see his point but think they need to work out the practicalities as it didn't quite work properly the other day.

I think there is a 2-hour debate on Monday about how the house will conduct business during the Coronavirus pandemic.

JRM also said that it isn't right to expect the public to queue when parliamentarians don't have to

I think there is a difference between queuing to get into a shop and queuing to vote - especially if there are many amendments.

@chomalungma

JRM also said that it isn't right to expect the public to queue when parliamentarians don't have to

I think there is a difference between queuing to get into a shop and queuing to vote - especially if there are many amendments.

Absolutely - no-one is queueing to do their job, are they? It’s completely different and a nonsensical argument.

Every day I just boggle more and more at this government.

Sharma, clearly displaying symptoms, on camera, at work, not self-isolating...what was going through his head, or the heads of those around him? It's fucking ridiculous. The virus has been with us for about 5 months now and just about the only message that's been clear is that you self-isolate if you suspect you have symptoms!

And I totally agree with the assessment of Rees-Mogg. EVERYTHING he does seems to turn to shit. If I read in future that he has managed to lose all the cash he made thanks to Brexit, I won't be a bit surprised.

@NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite
Obviously I don’t know but there was definitely a suggestion on Twitter that he was around and not feeling well the previous day. In any case if he was showing symptoms as he did but he should have left to go home ASAP.