AN SNP MP who was excluded from voting on the Internal Market Bill last week can finally vote by proxy, she has announced.
Amy Callaghan, who is recovering from a brain haemorrhage, urged Westminster to modernise after she was unable to vote from home.
The East Dunbartonshire MP was unable to travel to the Commons and not eligible for a proxy vote under the Parliament’s rules.
Proxy voting was brought in on a trial basis last year – under updated regulations MPs who cannot attend the Commons due to medical reasons can only vote by proxy if their condition is related to the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: SNP MP recovering from brain surgery excluded from Westminster votes
SNP councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, who suffers continuous pain due to having a neurological condition called Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, said it was an “utter travesty” that with modern technology Callaghan was left unable to cast her vote on the controversial legislation.
She tweeted: “It is an utter travesty in a time when we are more digitally connected than we have ever been, that ill or disabled MPs' choice is to be in the building or not vote. Willful ableism in full view, emblematic of the distain the UK Government treat those of us with health issues with.”
This morning Callaghan revealed she was able to vote on the Internal Market Bill land thanked Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for changing the system.
She wrote on Twitter to say she was “delighted” that she can now vote by proxy and last night cast her vote to uphold international law by rejected the legislation.
🗳 Delighted to confirm I can now vote by proxy. Last night, I voted to uphold international law within the #InternalMarketBill
— Amy Callaghan MP (@AmyCallaghanSNP) September 22, 2020
⭐️ I'm very grateful to Speaker @LindsayHoyle_MP & to my @theSNP colleagues.
🗣 The people of East Dunbartonshire will still have their voices heard. https://t.co/9TkC6q20HW
“The people of East Dunbartonshire will still have their voices heard,” she added.
MPs will vote on the Internal Market Bill again today after it cleared its first hurdle in the Commons last week.
The UK Government has admitted its plan to use the legislation to override parts of its Brexit agreement with the EU would break international law.
Former prime minister Theresa May has said she will not support the bill, which would damage “trust in the United Kingdom”.
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