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Opposition parties unite to demand withdrawal from Parliament as new Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer calls for the right to investigate ministers as the death toll from coronavirus approaches 10,000
- Sir Keir said the House of Commons should be open for business after Easter
- The new Labor leader said that even if it means MPs asking questions on webcams
- Their calls have been returned by the leaders of the Liberal Democrats, as well as by the SNP.
- Nearly 10,000 people have died in British hospitals since the outbreak began
- Learn more about how to help people affected by COVID
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded “urgent talks” with the government to ensure that MPs can investigate ministers about their handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Sir Keir, who replaced Jeremy Corbyn as leader last week, said the Commons must open their businesses after Easter, even if that means MPs asking questions on webcams.
His calls have been endorsed by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP when Ed Davey and Ian Blackford criticized the lack of parliamentary scrutiny as the death toll nears 10,000.
Sir Keir (right), who replaced Jeremy Corbyn as leader last week, said the Commons must open their businesses after Easter, even if that means MPs asking questions on webcams. His calls have been endorsed by the Liberal Democrats and SNP when Ed Davey (left) and Ian Blackford criticized the lack of parliamentary scrutiny as the death toll approaches 10,000
In a letter to the leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sir Keir wrote: ‘Parliament has a responsibility to ask questions of ministers at this time of national crisis.
‘The best decisions are those that are questioned and subject to scrutiny. And through that process, issues can be resolved, mistakes can be rectified quickly, and individual concerns are addressed, helping to save lives and protect our country.
“But if Parliament is not sitting down or operating effectively, that cannot happen.”
In a letter to the leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sir Keir (pictured with his wife Vic on Thursday) wrote: “Parliament has a responsibility to ask questions of ministers at this time of national crisis.”
The former director of prosecutions for the Crown Prosecution Service said Labor supported “many of the measures” implemented by the government, but established a list of questions that “need to be answered.”
He called for clarity on an exit strategy from the UK-imposed blockade, along with responses on ‘increased evidence’ for Covid-19 and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line NHS personnel.
The 57-year-old woman requested a meeting with Mr Rees-Mogg and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle next week to discuss the resumption of Parliament on April 21 so those questions can be brought directly to The ministers.
Her letter comes after Interior Minister Priti Patel told reporters during a Downing Street briefing that she “did not yet know” whether the Commons would meet as planned in just over a week.
Home Secretary Priti Patel told reporters during a briefing on Downing Street that she “did not yet know” whether the Commons would meet as scheduled in just over a week.
Sir Keir added: ‘I am writing to request urgent talks with you and the Speaker of the House this week on how we can ensure the return of Parliament after the Easter recess.
“I accept that it is difficult for Parliament to return to business as usual at the moment, but there are clear examples around the world of parliaments operating effectively through the use of new technologies and different models.”
Mr. Hoyle commissioned the work to ensure that a ‘virtual’ camera can be operational after the Easter recess so that MPs can return to duty.
You could see parliamentarians questioning ministers from their homes via webcam if the blockade is still in place, with high-ranking ministers signaling that there is no intention to curb social distancing measures.
The Palace of Westminster currently requires parliamentarians and their peers to be physically present to walk through the voting lobbies when the legislation is passed.
But the President has indicated that exceptions can be made to ensure that Parliament can function during the pandemic.
