Will MPs get an early Easter?
THE Houses of Parliament could shut down for Easter a week early to combat the spread of coronavirus.
At least ten MPs last night were believed to be self-isolating over fears they have the virus after health minister Nadine Dorries tested positive.
Commons Leader Jacob ReesMogg yesterday insisted it is of ‘fundamental importance that we keep’ Parliament open.
But the Daily Mail understands parliamentary officials are preparing to bring forward the Easter recess.
MPs are due to leave Westminster on March 31, but contingency plans have been drawn up that would see them go a week earlier.
Under one proposal, Parliament would stop sitting as soon as emergency legislation to deal with the virus has been passed. Visitors could be prevented from entering Parliament from as soon as this weekend.
Commons clerks have been told they will start working on rotation – with three weeks on and three weeks off – in a bid to keep Parliament operational following the Easter break.
Last night it emerged that a Cabinet minister who is self- isolating attended an emergency Cobra meeting with the Prime Minister.
And Andrew Bridgen yesterday became the latest MP to confirm they are self-isolating.
The Conservative member for North West Leicestershire made the decision after having lunch with Miss Dorries in the House of
Commons tea room last week. The backbencher is now awaiting a test for coronavirus. He said: ‘I have a cough and a cold but I am working via Skype and the telephone.’
Other MPs in self- isolation include health minister Edward Argar and shadow minister Rachael Maskell.
Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs in the Commons yesterday that Parliament will remain open and must ‘go ahead at the same pace as the rest of the country’ when it comes to responding to the outbreak.
He indicated that emergency legislation could be brought forward on Monday 23 March, subject to talks between Labour and the Tories.
Mr Rees-Mogg said: ‘It is of fundamental importance that we keep this place open.
‘But it is also important that we are treated and we treat ourselves in the same way as the rest of the country, and that we go ahead at the same pace as the rest of the country.
‘There should not be a difference in how Parliament is behaving from the advice that is being given to our constituents and I think that is important – we shouldn’t try and seek to be a special case for ourselves.’
Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin urged the Government and parliamentary authorities to ‘keep the show on the road’ by keeping Parliament open.
He said: ‘Doesn’t that set the best possible example to the rest of the country that we should keep things going and remain calm?’