Mhairi Black frustrated with Westminster “museum”

BRITAIN’S youngest MP has spoken of her frustrations at some of Westminster’s traditions, saying it must decide whether it is a museum or a functional parliament.

The SNP MP has given an brazenly honest interview to The Times, on her frustrations with Westminster tradition. Picture: Getty

Mhairi Black, who as a 20-year-old student was voted MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South in May, says that some of Westminster’s foibles grate on her.

The rule against clapping in the House of Commons is, she thinks, senseless: “So you’re not allowed to clap like an ordinary person, but you’re allowed to bray like a donkey?

“I mean, see PMQs, especially the Conservative side, they’ve got this weird noise they do. It actually sounds like a drunken mob.”

Westminster must choose, she said, whether it is a museum or a functional parliament, saying: “It’s constantly swinging between the two.”

She also suggested the tradition of having to vote in person, rather than electronically, is outdated.

“Are we genuinely saying that the Underground can log millions of travellers without a problem, and 650 of us can’t hit a button?

“It’s just stupid. A couple of Mondays ago, I didn’t get home until half past midnight because we were voting. How is anybody with a family supposed to work those hours?”