Boris is beset by technical issues as he takes PMQs from self-isolation

Tories including Jacob Rees-Mogg shunned masks in the Commons chamber today as Boris Johnson fought technical gremlins to take the last PMQs of term from self-isolation.

Hopes of a packed and rowdy chamber for the final weekly session before the summer break were dashed amid renewed concerns about rising cases and the ‘pingdemic’.

But Leader of the House Mr Rees-Mogg and chief whip Mark Spencer were among more than a dozen Conservatives who opted not to use face coverings. 

And some chose to sit closer together, in stark contrast to the Labour benches that universally sported masks and maintained wide gaps. 

After ‘Freedom Day’ saw almost all legal restrictions axed, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has lifted limits on numbers and made masks optional.

However, yesterday Sir Lindsay appealed for politicians not to ‘push the limits for the sake of it’.

Downing Street said the PM had been ‘clear about the importance of wearing masks’ in enclosed spaces. 

The clashes between Mr Johnson and Keir Starmer were also hampered as the PM needed to fiddle with his sound, at one point resorting to repeatedly asking: ‘Can you hear me, Mr Speaker?’   

Boris Johnson (left) dodged jibes from Keir Starmer (right) over his brief attempt to evade the quarantine edict using a testing scheme, saying the rules are still a ‘vital tool’ to control Covid

A number of Tory MPs, including Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and chief whip Mark Spencer, were not wearing masks in the chamber today despite Speaker Lindsay Hoyle urging MPs to stick with them for the final days of term

 By contrast the Labour benches were better spaced and universally sporting face coverings

Sir Keir grilled Mr Johnson over confusion yesterday when ministers suggested the app’s notifications could be ignored if that was the ‘best thing’ for them.

‘Can I wish the Prime Minister, ”the Chequers One”, well in his isolation,’ Sir Keir said. 

‘With half a million people self-isolating, I think we were all a bit surprised that the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Cabinet Office minister were all randomly chosen for a get-out-of-isolation-free card.

‘But it’s good that the Prime Minister finally recused himself, even if it took a public outcry, for the Communities Secretary to be humiliated on live TV and a trip to a country estate. 

‘If somebody’s pinged by the NHS app, as millions will be over coming weeks, should they isolate yes or no?’

Mr Johnson replied: ‘I think that everybody understands the inconvenience of being pinged, as he rightly says here I am, I wish I was with you in the Commons chamber today. I apologise to everybody in business up and down the land in all kinds of services, public sector or otherwise who are experiencing inconvenience.

‘We will be switching, as the House knows, to a system based on contact testing rather than contact isolation, but until then I just must remind everybody that isolation is a vital tool of our defence against the disease.’

Asked whether Mr Johnson would be telling his MPs to wear masks in the Commons in future, the PM’s press secretary said: ‘I think the Prime Minister has been clear about the importance of wearing masks in enclosed settings where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.’ 

There are an estimated 1.7million people in isolation as cases rise with the Delta variant running riot – although deaths remain at a low level thanks to vaccines. 

Sir Lindsay told the House yesterday: ‘With the increasing infection levels in the community and people having to isolate, I strongly advise that everyone on the estate should wear face coverings when moving around, assessing catering venues and in the areas they consider crowded, including the chamber.

‘We have four sitting days before the House rises.

‘I really want us to behave safely, responsibly, during these few days.

‘None of us wants to risk taking Covid back to our families, staff or constituents and I’m sure we will want everyone working on the estate to feel safe and secure, and to ensure the business of this House continues.

‘I’ve got to say we’ve certainly got a large number of people that have been contacted so I’m very worried about the outcome.

‘Four days to go, I want us all to have a good break and enjoy our holidays so hopefully we will take it seriously and not push the limits for the sake of it.’

Today’s PMQs, the last before the summer recess, was the first since the pandemic erupted where there are no formal social distancing measures

Although the limits on numbers in the chamber have been lifted there was still a sparse attendance today compared to the usually packed and rowdy pre-pandemic sessions

‘Morale isn’t helped by the confusion that comes from these confusing messages from Government.’

On whether production lines are stalling, he said: ‘They are. It’s happening already. We’re starting to see that at retail level and in restaurants – everyone is struggling to get things out really.’

He said the industry is not clear who is covered by the exemption for a small number of double-jabbed critical workers.

‘It was made very clear to us late yesterday that this exemption will be for very, very few people. They described it as setting the bar very, very high and we’re certainly not counting on that,’ he said.