Jewish peer reprimanded for being 'fast asleep' during debate

A Jewish peer has drawn attention to himself after appearing to take a schluff during a House of Lords debate on Monday evening. 

Footage of the proceedings showed Lord Young of Norwood Green, 79, slumped to one side during a debate about genetic modification regulations. He later stood to his feet to make a contribution.  

"I wanted to take part in this debate because I stake my position as somebody who is a Remainer.

"But if there’s two things that I welcome in coming out of the Common Market, one is the CAP and this particular gene editing,” he began saying.

But he was interrupted by government whip Lady Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist who said he had been “fast asleep” during an earlier speech. 

“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 opportunity to listen to it,” she said. 

When Lord Young replied he was "not now" asleep, Lady Bloomfield then added, “I had to send a note via the doorkeeper to wake up the noble Lord.”