Now ‘workshy’ MPs are demanding Parliament’s working hours be cut to 10am ’til 4pm – and some want debates to be held online!_Nhy
Workshy newbie MPs have demanded that Parliament’s working hours be cut to 10am to 4pm – and some want Commons debates to be conducted over Microsoft Teams.
The suggestions have been made to a government committee on modernising Parliament.
Two sources said a formal submission has been made to reduce sitting hours, with a cut-off point of 4pm instead of continuing late into the evening.
On Mondays, Parliament starts at 2.30pm – allowing MPs time to get to London – and sits until 10.30pm. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the hours are 11.30am to 7.30pm, with a 5.30pm finish on Thursdays when many MPs travel to their constituencies.
Leader of the House Lucy Powell is chairing the Modernisation Committee, set up with the aim of ‘driving up standards, improving culture and working practices and reforming procedures’.
It is currently accepting ideas from MPs, and conducting private hearings with relevant experts.
‘Some of the new intake want a more standard working day. But what we have is a compromise and it works,’ an insider said.
According to a senior source, some MPs have also asked for the Chamber to move onto Teams – having become used to working that way because of the pandemic.
New MPs are demanding that the Commons sit for less hours and even move debates online
Leader of the House Lucy Powell (pictured) is chairing the Modernisation Committee, set up with the aim of ‘driving up standards, improving culture and working practices and reforming procedures’
The proposals have sparked outrage from more seasoned MPs.
Moving to Teams ‘would be less exposed – they do not want the scrutiny’, a senior source said. ‘Some hate being in the Chamber and have not got the hang of it.’
A source with knowledge of the committee said the proposals are not going to be picked up, but conveyed dismay at ‘naive’ MPs.
One Tory accused the MPs of being ‘workshy’, adding: ‘It’s ridiculous. This is part of the job. If you didn’t want to do it, you shouldn’t have become an MP.’
The source said Labour’s landslide has meant some new MPs were not expecting to be elected and were not prepared for the realities of Parliament. Of the 650 members elected in July, a record 335 were first-time MPs.
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A government source said: ‘Whilst the Commons needs to modernise and rebuild trust, we have some important conventions which help uphold our democracy. The committee will seek to strike this balance.’
Some changes have already been introduced by Ms Powell and the committee, including tighter rules on MPs’ second jobs.
Last week the proxy voting system was updated to allow women with health complications, including those relating to fertility treatment and miscarriage, to vote without being present in Parliament.
