London (CNN) The British Parliament has seen many historic days over the centuries. Yet it will have experienced few stranger than the spectacle that took place on Wednesday afternoon.

Spotty internet connections, up-the-nostril camera angles and garish drapes. Welcome to Prime Minister's Questions via zoom; the mother of parliaments reimagined as a regional managers' team meeting.

For the first time ever, the UK's lawmakers were asked to grill their government via videoconference , as social distancing measures meant that the famous green benches -- usually packed with more than 600 Members of Parliament for the weekly session -- were nearly empty.

In the spaces usually occupied by excitable MPs were signs showing where it was safe to sit. Above their heads were television screens, displaying the faces of those lawmakers asking questions from outside the chamber. The parliamentary press gallery, which wraps around the back of the famous Speaker's Chair, was home to only 16 journalists.

Scottish Nationalist MP Ian Blackford joined PMQs by video link.

When the time came for the first virtual question, there was visible concern in the chamber as Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the Commons, announced "David Mundell, we've been unable to connect." Mercifully, this was the only major hiccup and the rest of the questions from those not in the chamber went relatively smoothly.

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