A peer was blocked from taking part in a House of Lords debate after being accused of falling asleep.
Labour peer Lord Young of Norwood Green was told he could not take part in a debate on regulations governing genetic modification by Government frontbencher Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist.
Government whip Lady Bloomfield intervened to say: “I am sorry, but the noble lord was fast asleep for the entire duration of the minister’s speech.
“He really should not participate in this debate having failed to take advantage of the ability to hear him.”
Lord Young, a former union boss who has also served as a BBC governor, replied: “Sorry?”
Lady Bloomfield said: “I am afraid the noble lord was fast asleep for the entirety of the minister’s opening speech.”
Lord Young replied that he was “not now” asleep, but Lady Bloomfield said: “Well I had to send a note to you – in order to wake you up – by the doorkeeper.”
The regulations would allow greater freedom for the practice of gene editing of plants in the UK.
Environment minister Lord Benyon said the regulations would allow the UK to “remain at the forefront” of research into GM crops.
