BBC's Fiona Bruce, was joined in Stockport by the Tory Treasury Minister Lucy Frazer, 49, Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson, 37, Blackley-born NatWest Chairman Sir Howard Davies, 70, economist Miatta Fahnbulleh, 42, and Dragons' Den entrepreneur Jenny Campbell, 60.

       Coronavirus was one of the many topics discussed during the heated Question Time debate.

       Following Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments about Conservative MP's wearing masks, audience members in Stockport commented on the number of MPs wearing face coverings in the Commons.

       The Commons Leader was one of the only MPs in the House of Commons attending Rishi Sunak's Budget speech not wearing a face mask.

       Mr Rees-Mogg said: “Having taken one – I can assure her I have taken more than one over the weeks and months that have gone past – I am negative and therefore I am not going to be spewing Covid around this chamber, because I have taken a negative lateral flow test.”

       The Health Secretary had previously remarked people in busy areas should wear masks, including politicians who should set an example.

       "I think it was really really poor form by Jacob Rees-Mogg," one audience member said.

       He went on to accuse the Leader of the House of Commons of acting "flippantly" and suggested his comments could lead to "confusion" with the general public.

       The audience members also suggested lifting rules on mask wearing was a missed opportunity.

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       One audience member said: “Countries in Europe where mask wearing is mandatory, and there are vaccine passports, have much lower cases than in the UK.”

       “Why didn’t we just carry on doing it and make it mandatory?”

       The Prime Minister has already made the necessary preparations to impose extra coronavirus restrictions should cases and hospitalisations surge to a level deemed unsustainable by ministers, officials said action could be taken immediately.

       Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: “One of the reasons we set out our autumn planning, including our plan B and including Covid certification, was so that we are able to act swiftly if required.

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       “I again emphasise we do not see anything in the statistics to suggest we currently need to implement it.

       “As a responsible Government we are making sure we are ready to act should it become necessary.”

       Fiona Bruce will travel from Stockport to Eastleigh for next week's episode of Question Time.