CREWE and Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan is back in Parliament today after taking measures to self-isolate following a weekend coronavirus scare.

The MP missed Parliamentary business on Monday and Tuesday after he learnt on Sunday evening that someone he was in contact with had displayed virus symptoms.

It meant he missed an amendment vote on the Fire Safety Bill, which was passing through the House of Commons on Monday, triggering scrutiny from Crewe's Labour councillors who asked why he had not passed through the lobby.

Mr Mullan was too late to be given a proxy vote for the amendment, which was defeated by his Conservative colleagues, but he was put on the proxy list yesterday.

He has now been told that the person he was in contact with has produced a negative Covid-19 test, allowing him to get back to The Commons.

A spokesperson for the MP said: "Kieran has now received notification from the individual who had displayed symptoms that his Covid test had come back negative.

"This means that he is able to return to and take part in Parliamentary business from today.

"He was contacted late on Sunday night and he self-isolated while he waited to hear back about the test result."

Regarding the proxy voting process, the spokesperson added: "The rules are that it has to be 24 hours in advance to get a proxy and Kieran was unable to do it in time (for Monday).

"As the result has come back he has gone back to Parliament and been taken off the proxy list."