Scottish anger as Rees-mogg forces MPS to return to Westminster
Jacob Rees-mogg clashed with Scottish opposition MPS as he confirmed the government would bring virtual parliamentary debates to an end and force parliamentarians back to Westminster.
The Commons leader insisted parliament would be “Covid-19 secure” by 2 June when MPS come back from a twoweek recess, with no return to the “crowded, bustling chamber of old”.
MPS’ staff will be “strongly advised to continue working from home” and social distancing measures that cap the number of parliamentarians in the chamber at 50 will continue, with physical voting taking up to 45 minutes to keep MPS at least six feet apart in voting lobbies.
But Mr Rees-mogg was told it was “simply Orwellian” to claim that ending virtual parliamentary debates would improve scrutiny of government, and warned that ministers risked breaching equalities laws when it came to MPS who have underlying health conditions, or live with family who do.
He responded by pointing out that the Scottish Parliament has continued to sit with a third of MSPS in the chamber throughout the crisis.
In an urgent question to Mr Rees-mogg, Orkney and Shetland
Liberal Democrat MP Alastair Carmichael said the government is asking MPS to undertake“non-essentialjourneys” to return to Parliament, adding: “In my case, almost the entire length of this country, to stay in second homes – something which, when done by leading government advisers, led to their resignation. If ever there was a case of do as I say, not as I do, then this is it.”
Citing reports that Mr Reesmogg had suggested “Perspex screens” should be installed in the chamber to get more MPS inside, Mr Carmichael added: “Someone has obviously told him how things are being done at Tesco these days.”
Mr Rees-mogg accused the Lib Dem MP of passing judgment from his “Shetland eyrie”, and dismissed a claim that Tory MPS were being told to return to provide support for Boris Johnson at PMQS as “fundamentally trivial”.
“Under the hybrid proceedings the time this House is able to spend debating legislation faces being cut by around twothirds,” Mr Rees-mogg said.
“We have to recognise that if we persist with the present arrangement it will become harder to make progress in a timely fashion.”
Earlier, at Scottish Questions, SNP MP Alan Dorans challenged the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack over why he was making a 700-mile round trip to appear in the Commons when Scottish and UK government advice said those who can work at home should do so.
“As a Cabinet Minister and a Secretary of State, it is right that I should be here in the Chamber so that I can be properly scrutinised and answer these questions,” Mr Jack replied.
“I came down at the weekend and travelled on a train very safely. I will return safely and I will be isolating myself when I do, but that is solely because I go back to family.
“I do not see why we cannot have proper scrutiny of Parliament
when we have the virtual proceedings, which work for some, but for me it is absolutely about being here, being scrutinised and being at the Dispatch Box.”
Labour’s shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz asked if Mr Rees-mogg had held talks with Public Health England and urged him to publish any advice it had given him.
Ms Vaz also pressed for answers on how Commons staff will be protected, with Mr Rees-mogg confirming a risk assessment has been carried out.
The Commons leader said there was “extra cleaning going on” and said work was under way to ensure MPS who have to shield indoors or have family members who do will be represented.
Murray lives up to moment in his first Scottish Questions since return from the wilderness
When Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader, Prime Minister’s Questions was often a dull slog, particularly when his skills found their match in Theresa May.
For Scottish journalists at Westminster, building up to that excitement once a month with Scottish Questions felt like a cruel joke.
It wasn’t the fault of David Mundell, who had a good line in backhanded compliments and subtle put downs; in a one-on-one contest, you only need to be better than your opponent.
In the majority of his time as Scottish Secretary, Mundell faced two English MPS – Dave Anderson and Tony Lloyd – and Lesley Laird, who lost her seat to a candidate Nicola Sturgeon told her own party not to vote for.