Union urges immediate vote on risk-based exclusion of MPs

Prospect trade union, which represents many workers in the UK Parliament, has written to Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP urging her to bring forward a vote on the risk-based exclusion of MPs.

There was due to be a vote on the proposals, which would allow Parliament to bar from the estate MPs arrested by the police for sexual or violent crimes, today (4 March) but the debate and vote have been delayed by the Leader of the House of Commons.

The recommendations to be voted on are the result of an extensive consultation process, which came about after campaigning by unions representing staff on the parliamentary estate:

• The consultation began on 5 December 2022 and closed on 31 January 2023.
• Four months later, on 5 June 2023, the Commission published its report containing its proposals.
• On 12 June 2023, these proposals were debated in the House of Commons.
• Six months later, on 14 December 2023, an updated set of proposals were published.
• At the Business Statement on 22 February 2024, Mordaunt announced a debate on a motion on risk-based exclusion would be held on 4 March.
• Just a week later, at the following Business Statement on 29 February 2024, the motion was pulled.

In the letter Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said:

“A general election is fast approaching, and it would be intolerable for Parliament to dissolve without having implemented these important reforms. The risk of that happening is growing every day – indeed, if the general election is to take place on 2 May, there are just three weeks remaining until Parliament must be dissolved.

“There can be no more delays to implementing the Commission’s recommendations. Those working on the parliamentary estate must receive the same kind of protection from those under arrest for sexual or violent offences that any other worker of any other employer would receive. The time has come for party management to be put aside and the right thing to finally be done.

“At this week’s Business Statement, I urge you to set the soonest possible date for your motion to be debated and voted upon.”