COVID situation means any parliamentary recall must be done remotely

There are continuing reports that if a Brexit trade deal is done, parliament will have to be recalled to approve it.

Some MPs have also been calling for parliament to be recalled to approve the new tier system and the new guidance for mixing over Christmas. Under the current parliamentary rules this would require many MPs and staff  to appear physically in parliament, despite the new tier system and increased risk of COVID infection.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, responded:

“Prospect and the other parliamentary staff unions have been calling for months for parliament to move to a fully hybrid system before the situation in London got worse – Jacob Rees-Mogg refused at every turn. We are now in the situation where London and much of the South East have been effectively forced back into lockdown yet staff are facing the potential full recall of parliament either to approve the new tiers or to approve a Brexit trade deal if one is reached.

“Democracy must be allowed to continue but it must not be at the expense of the safety of parliamentary staff. Any recall must be done on a fully remote basis so that the numbers of people entering Westminster can be kept to an absolute minimum.

“Our professional staff have already proven that they can manage the technological challenge well – all we need now is for Jacob Rees-Mogg and the government to abandon their baseless and dangerous opposition to remote sittings and we can move forward without putting anyone at unnecessary risk.”