‘We’ll only return to House when it’s safe’

THE Commons Speaker yesterday insisted everyone who works in Parliament must be kept safe after ministers called for all 650 MPs to return in person.

The end of ‘virtual’ proceedings would mean that MPs, their staff and all who work on the Parliamentary estate would return in early June. The requirement for two metres between people means only 50 MPs can attend the chamber while up to 120 join remotely via Zoom.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said his top priority was safety. He warned: ‘I may suspend sittings between items of business to allow safe access to and exit the chamber.’ He would also suspend if the number of MPs attending was unsafe.