‘NOT in the public interest’.
That is a Wharfedale MP’s opinion of attempts to get politicians back to Westminster as soon as possible.
The UK Parliament is currently operating on a largely ‘virtual’ basis using video links and remote votes, with no more than 50 MPs allowed in the House of Commons at any one time.
Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg has called for those arrangements to end on June 2 to ‘set an example’ to the country as some lockdown measures begin to be relaxed in England.
The idea, however, has been widely criticised with the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, warning that he would suspend Parliament if physical distancing rules were breached.
MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) is also opposed to the move. He said: “Given the busy and close confined nature of Parliament I do not believe this to be in the public interest, particularly as the remote Parliament has proven to be very successful.
“I would hope that these moves are not being considered solely to provide the Prime Minister with a noisy chamber for his regular head to heads with Keir Starmer at PMQs.”
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