The United Kingdom government’s new guidelines encouraged some people to return to work if they can amid loosening lockdown restrictions imposed to enforce social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have chosen to keep the previous restrictions in place, however.
Forcing MPs to physically return to Westminster and ending virtual sessions in the Houses of Commons risks “locking out” MPs from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the Electoral Reform Society warned on Wednesday.
Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said that despite Boris Johnson’s role as “Minister for the Union”, he could he end up excluding MPS from the devolved regions of the UK.
He explained that while Westminster has dropped its ‘stay at home’ message, the original social-distancing guidelines remain in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
He urged the government not to “ride roughshod” over concerns by Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle who has said that members of the house should not return until it’s properly safe and legal to do so.
Speaker Hoyle said that he may suspend parliament if national physical distancing rules are breached within the Commons chamber.
“My priority and the priority for all I am sure is to make sure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated”, he said.
This follows calls by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg saying on Tuesday that lawmakers should physically attend sessions in the house on 2 June after Whitsun recess, in order to give “the right message” to the public who have been asked to return to work under the government’s new guidelines.
MPs have been attending Prime Ministers Questions and other parliamentary procedure through a ‘hybrid’ system of virtual call-ins with some, including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, attending physically.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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