Sir Desmond Swayne apologises after falling asleep in Commons debate

NEW FOREST West MP Sir Desmond Swayne has apologised after he fell asleep in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate.

Sir Desmond was caught on camera on Tuesday snatching 40 winks as politicians discussed the EU withdrawal bill.

As Ken Clarke spoke, behind him Conservative colleague Sir Desmond, who represents New Forest West, could be seen reclining deeply with his eyes closed, propped up by the arm of the green bench he was resting on.

Sir Desmond was roused with a sudden shake of his head and a grin only when Mr Clarke moved on to his support for the Treaty of Lisbon, which forms the constitutional basis of the EU. He swiftly started checking his mobile phone.

Asked by the A&T whether he had been asleep on the job, Sir Desmond admitted to dropping off and said sorry.

“I apologise,” he said. “One moment I was listening to Ken and the next I had nodded off momentarily. I am not aware of it happening before, and it certainly won't happen again.”

Sir Desmond, a 61-year-old former Territorial Army officer, was reported to have blamed his tiredness on having been up at 5.30am for a swim in the Serpentine, which is his habit when parliament is sitting.

However, the MP’s behaviour prompted a string of comments to the A&T’s email and social media. One complained: “And this is what our taxes pay for. Outrageous.”

Another stormed: “It shows a complete lack of respect for parliament, fellow party members and the constituents he is supposed to be representing.”

Sir Desmond made light of the matter as he spoke on Wednesday at Prime Minister’s Questions when he was loudly barracked by MPs but defended as “extremely alert” by Speaker John Bercow.

“A question keeps me awake at night,” he began, as he raised with Theresa May the issue of frozen food specialists Iceland planning to ban plastics in its own-brand products.

The footage of a sleepy Sir Desmond was widely shared on social media and drew some sympathy from fellow Brexiters on Twitter for the apparent effect of Mr Clarke’s anti-Brexit oratory.

One said: “What do you expect when listening to @KenClarkeMP bleat on... and on, and on, and on about being a whiny, losing remainiac.”

However, others were less impressed and questioned whether Sir Desmond deserved his MP’s salary of £74,962 for snoozing in the chamber.

“And just how much is the honourable gentleman paid for sleeping on the job?” asked one.

Another complained: “If I did that, I’d be sacked!”

And one commented: “I'm sure that £75k a year should buy him some Red Bull.”