RICHMOND — Members of the press have been readmitted  to the floor of the Virginia Senate.

“Today, all those who support transparency in government will celebrate a victory for the First Amendment to our constitution,” said Sen. Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham).

“As a result of my willingness to stand and fight for principles of constitutional governance, press freedom and legislative transparency, Republican leadership has allowed the sunshine of a free and open press back into Virginia’s Senate.”

The move was made in an announcement last week from Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, a Republican.

At the open of this year’s session of the Senate, the tables that members of the media have used for years had been removed, and reporters were relocated to the upstairs gallery.

“I’m proud to have stood on principle in leading this fight, even if it makes me unpopular with the Republican establishment. This issue is not about right and left — it’s about right and wrong,” said Garrett, who has announced his candidacy for Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District seat.

Garrett represents Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward in the Senate.