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| Sir Desmond Swayne 'embarrassed' by Commons snooze | Sir Desmond Swayne 'embarrassed' by Commons snooze |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Tory MP who appeared to fall asleep in the House of Commons has said he is embarrassed and "annoyed" with himself. | A Tory MP who appeared to fall asleep in the House of Commons has said he is embarrassed and "annoyed" with himself. |
| Sir Desmond Swayne, who nodded off during a speech by colleague Ken Clarke, said the image of him with his head on his shoulder was "horrible". | Sir Desmond Swayne, who nodded off during a speech by colleague Ken Clarke, said the image of him with his head on his shoulder was "horrible". |
| In his defence, he said he had had a "very long day", having been up swimming in London at 05:30 GMT. | In his defence, he said he had had a "very long day", having been up swimming in London at 05:30 GMT. |
| "I dozed off for 30 seconds," he told BBC 5 Live. "That is the extent of it. It happened. It won't happen again." | "I dozed off for 30 seconds," he told BBC 5 Live. "That is the extent of it. It happened. It won't happen again." |
| Sir Desmond, who is a supporter of Brexit, nodded off during a debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill but rejected suggestions he was making a statement about Mr Clarke's pro-Remain views. | Sir Desmond, who is a supporter of Brexit, nodded off during a debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill but rejected suggestions he was making a statement about Mr Clarke's pro-Remain views. |
| The New Forest West MP said he had heard Mr Clarke's speech before but his "momentary lapse" was not because he was "bored" with proceedings but was a result of tiredness. | |
| "I was listening to Ken Clarke and I felt woozy," he told Emma Barnett. "Then all of a sudden you have gone for 30 seconds. I am annoyed I let it happen. It is embarrassing and annoying." | "I was listening to Ken Clarke and I felt woozy," he told Emma Barnett. "Then all of a sudden you have gone for 30 seconds. I am annoyed I let it happen. It is embarrassing and annoying." |
| The nap was later referred to when Sir Desmond was called to ask a question at Prime Minister's Questions. | The nap was later referred to when Sir Desmond was called to ask a question at Prime Minister's Questions. |
| When he was a serving soldier, Sir Desmond said he had taught himself to "catnap" because of the limited opportunities for sleep. | When he was a serving soldier, Sir Desmond said he had taught himself to "catnap" because of the limited opportunities for sleep. |
| "I am sure everyone has experienced that feeling when you are really tired and you just feel yourself going," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. | "I am sure everyone has experienced that feeling when you are really tired and you just feel yourself going," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. |
| Speaking on the same programme, fellow Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said it was "not good to be seen to be asleep on the job". | Speaking on the same programme, fellow Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said it was "not good to be seen to be asleep on the job". |
| However, he said he had sympathy for his colleague as it was "pretty easy to feel droopy" after a busy day and given the rather close atmosphere in the chamber. | However, he said he had sympathy for his colleague as it was "pretty easy to feel droopy" after a busy day and given the rather close atmosphere in the chamber. |
| He joked that in the days before Commons proceedings were televised in 1989, MPs used to go into the Chamber for a nap. | He joked that in the days before Commons proceedings were televised in 1989, MPs used to go into the Chamber for a nap. |