Social media posts have claimed an image shows Labour MP Carolyn Harris asleep in the House of Commons. The image, however, is from a Prime Minister's Questions session in March 2021, and video from the session shows she was awake throughout.
Two posts shared the image with the same caption, saying: “Labour MP Carolyn Harris is paid over £97k a year to sleep at work.” The posts do not claim the image was taken recently, but none make clear it is over five years old.
Image from March 2021 session
A reverse image search found the same photo first circulated on social media on March 17 2021. A day later, Ms Harris spoke to the media and said she “categorically did not – and would never – go to sleep during any session in work”.
Videos of Prime Minister's Questions on March 17 2021 show Ms Harris in the House of Commons, wearing the same clothes as in the image shared online. The photo aligns with a frame from Parliament's video of the session (at 12.23.36pm) and with a news broadcast on YouTube (at 21 minutes and 36 seconds).
Video shows MP awake
The frames show Ms Harris looking down to her side with her legs crossed and her arm over the bench. The seconds before the frame show her turning her head down to the side while an MP behind her asks a question. The seconds after the MP's question then show her head raised and turning towards Boris Johnson as he responds.
Various moments in this Prime Minister's Questions session clearly show Ms Harris was awake.
