Mark Drakeford does FMQs from COP – but not without technical difficulties

Mark Drakeford has done this week’s First Ministers’ Questions from the COP26 Climate Change conference in Glasgow – but not without some technical difficulties.

Despite the Senedd having conducted itself at least in part over video link since the start of the pandemic, it is believed to be the first time a First Minister has taken the weekly questions from outside of Wales.

Mark Drakeford answered questions with the main COP conference floor, including the giant globe that hangs from the ceiling, visible behind him.

However, the attempt was not without technical difficulties, as the connection was lost to the First Minister after the second question was asked by Conservative MP Samuel Kurtz.

“I think we have lost the connection to the First Minister,” Llywydd Elin Jones said. “First Minister, are you able to hear us clearly? I think the answer to that is no.

“So we’ll take a short technical break and see if we can resume the connection quickly.”

The connection was resumed two minutes later.

It is the second time a Zoom connection from a conference has created difficulties for the Senedd in the last month, after the NHS Covid pass for clubs and large events was introduced at the beginning of October.

At that time, a Tory MS failed to get on Zoom from the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester to cast his vote.

Bridgend and Porthcawl Senedd Member, Sarah Murphy MS, said: “Love that Mark Drakeford is joining us live from COP for First Minister’s Questions today.”

The first question asked by Newport West Senedd Member Jayne Bryant was about climate change.