A SCOTTISH student has exposed the archaic voting system at Westminster with an ingenious video which compares it to the speedy process at Holyrood.
Sarah Mackie’s video shows MPs voting on a bill at the Westminster Parliament alongside a clip of the equivalent process in Edinburgh.
The only difference is that the Westminster video had to be sped up by 1700% to keep pace with the footage from north of the Border.
That’s because the Westminster vote, which requires MPs to file through voting lobbies to have their name recorded manually, takes a total of 19 minutes and 40 seconds to complete – compared with just one minute and 17 seconds at Holyrood, where an electronic system is used.
Voting times: Holyrood vs Westminster.
— Sarah Mackie (@lumi_1984) April 4, 2019
The Holyrood vote (electronic) is in real time.
The majority of the Westminster vote (archaic) had to be sped up by 1700%. pic.twitter.com/GwDMeQ2rSH
Shared on social media by audio engineering student Mackie, the video has been met with a mixture of admiration for her work and exasperation at the Westminster system.
WATCH: SNP MPs slam 'shambolic' voting procedures in video from Commons
SNP MP Phillipa Whitford, who has endured countless votes on Brexit proposals and deals, replied: “Now I know why I feel kanckered! #BrexitMess”
Now I know why I feel knackered! #BrexitMess
— Dr Philippa Whitford (@Dr_PhilippaW) April 4, 2019
Here is a selection of the best Twitter responses:
The 'Mother of Parliaments' is looking really old and slow in her old age..... https://t.co/n23IPgEAvo
— Andrew Sinclair (@Bluesprints) April 4, 2019
This is brilliant - thanks for putting it together 👏
— W G Saraband 🏴🇵🇹 (@wgsaraband) April 4, 2019
19 minutes 40 is speedy in comparison with some recently... 30 minutes or more. WHAT A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME!
— Dr Amanda Fleet (@amanda_fleet1) April 4, 2019
Masterclass!! pic.twitter.com/nTmAwWotM6
— Above Average Dad (@ScotsFox71) April 4, 2019
Westminster is stuck in a time warp.
— SHUFFLEPAW (@shufflepaw) April 4, 2019
Ridiculous. It's time Westminster joined the 21st Century.
— Zombie Tree (@queenlupusmaia) April 4, 2019
Excellent job 👏👏👏👏 just shows what a waste of time it is down there and also how outdated Westminster is .
— #mcbotybotbot (@RangerRfc1) April 4, 2019
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