Tory says fellow MPs who want to keep virtual parliament are 'lazy and work-shy'
Conservative MP Henry Smith says it is not surprising that "work-shy social and nationalist" MPs want to keep it in place.
Thursday 21 May 2020 16:10, UK
MPs who want to maintain the virtual parliament system during the coronavirus lockdown are "lazy" and "work-shy", a Conservative MP has claimed.
Crawley MP Henry Smith wrote on Twitter that it was not surprising that "work-shy social and nationalist MPs tried to keep the remote parliament going beyond 2 June" amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The remarks attracted criticism, with Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner branding them "nonsense".
She added that MPs and their staff from across the chamber have been "working hard" from their homes during the coronavirus lockdown.
Labour shadow minister Jess Phillips and former shadow minister and Labour MP Debbie Abrahams also criticised Mr Smith, condemning his remarks as both "appalling" and "insulting".
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed on Wednesday that he is sticking with plans to make MPs return to Westminster next month and bring an end to the current hybrid system.
This has seen MPs contribute to proceedings either in person or via Zoom.
Mr Rees-Mogg said social distancing will continue, which has limited numbers in the chamber to 50 MPs in recent weeks.
MPs will be required to keep six feet apart when casting their votes in the chamber.
Mr Rees-Mogg pledged that parliament would be "COVID-19 secure" by 2 June, with MPs spared the "crowded, bustling chamber of old".
He said the staff of MPs will be "strongly advised to continue working from home", while efforts are continuing to work out how those with underlying health conditions who have been told to shield can still contribute.
Making the case for MPs to return, Mr Rees-Mogg said the hybrid parliament had cut the time available for debating legislation by around two-thirds and hindered "proper scrutiny" of the government.
In the wake of his announcement, opposition MPs failed in an attempt to take control of the Commons agenda to allow a vote on how the chamber will operate after recess when their amendment was not selected.
Labour has said ministers have "yet to provide an honest explanation as to why it wants to bring this virtual system to an end".
A number of MPs from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns about a return.
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has said MPs "risk becoming 650 super-spreaders".
"The current 'hybrid' arrangements, however, while far from perfect, mean that MPs can work from home while all can still take part in voting on legislation, asking questions, scrutinising the government, speaking in debates, as well as undertaking constituency work," he said.
He added: "Providing safe working conditions will be difficult as social distancing is nigh on impossible in its narrow corridors.
"Meanwhile, having MPs arrive in Westminster from other parts of the country which are still experiencing high rates of infection is an epidemiologist's very worst nightmare."
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Robert Halfon, a fellow Tory MP, warned the Commons would become an "apartheid parliament" if measures for participating virtually are not retained for those who need them.
Mr Halfon, who is disabled, considered in an at-risk group and currently shielding, said: "It's not that I don't want to come in, I would come in tomorrow if I could."
Garry Graham, deputy general secretary of the Prospect union, said trade unions representing parliamentary staff had offered to work with the government on a phased return to a physical parliament between now and the summer.
He said: "It is incredibly disappointing that the government has chosen to ignore the voice of staff and impose a full return to parliament in two weeks, including physical voting, that will mean hundreds of people packed into parliament's narrow corridors putting MPs and staff at risk."