An MP was snubbed from speaking in Parliament after being told he was dressed too casually.

Conservative Jonathan Gullis appeared via Zoom for a debate on support for businesses and individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

But the Deputy Speaker was left unimpressed by the blue top he was wearing while working from home.

Dame Eleanor Laing ordered Mr Gullis to go and change before addressing the chamber, as dress code dictates he must wear businesslike attire.

She said: ‘We now go to… we now go… no, I don’t think we do go to Stoke-on-Trent, the honourable gentleman has to be dressed as if he were here in the chamber.

‘So we will not go to Stoke-on-Trent, we will try to come back to Mr Gullis in due course, but we will go now to Chesterfield, (with Labour MP) Toby Perkins.’

Cracking a joke at his colleague’s expense, Mr Perkins said: ‘Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker, you’ll see I’ve got all my clothes on and I’m sure you’d be pleased to know it.’

By the time Mr Perkins had stopped speaking, Mr Gullis was back wearing a suit and tie and was allowed to make his contribution.

Making it clear she would not accept casual clothing, Dame Eleanor said: ‘We are now going back to Stoke-on-Trent, where I observe that the honourable gentleman is now properly dressed.

‘Lest anyone should be confused, when people are participating virtually then they are appearing in this chamber, the chamber of the House of Commons, and therefore it is absolutely imperative that everybody taking part in these debates should be dressed in the way that they would be in the House of Commons.’

A sheepish Mr Gullis replied: ‘Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker, the jacket is now on! Apologies.’

The official rulebook on ‘Behaviour and Courtesies in the House of Commons’, issued by the Speaker and the Deputy Speakers, states: ‘As with the language you use, the way in which you dress should also demonstrate respect for the House and for its central position in the life of the nation.’

It goes on to say ‘there is no exact dress code’ but ‘usual business dress is suggested as a guide’. 

Men are not required to wear ties but jackets should be worn. Jeans, T-shirts, sandals and trainers are not appropriate, neither are T-shirts or large badges ‘displaying brand names or slogans, or other forms of advertising of either commercial or non-commercial causes’.

The incident comes after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle joked it would be acceptable to wear pyjamas or pants on Zoom ‘as long as I can’t see’.

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