Video
Mayor says Jacob Rees-Mogg’s plan for MPs a case of ‘do as we say, not as we do’
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham (L) and junior justice minister Chris Philp on BBC Question Time; BBC iPlayer - Credit: Archant
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has slammed Jacob Rees-Mogg's plan to force MPs back to the Commons, calling it a case of 'do as we say, not as we do'.
Burnham appeared on the BBC's Question Time show via videolink to say that the move to force MPs back to the chamber was a 'poor decision'.
Earlier that day MPs supported the government's plans to bring back politicians to parliament in order to vote on legislation and participate in debates from June 2, effectively ending the virtual voting system in place since April.
You may also want to watch:
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, who proposed the plan to the Commons, said it was important for politicians return to the Houses of Parliament to 'set an example' to the public.
MORE: Tory MP brands opponents of Jacob Rees-Mogg's return to Commons plan 'work-shy'
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 3 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
- 4 The Tory MPs who failed to vote against a Universal Credit cut
- 5 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 6 Iain Duncan Smith defends calling Donald Trump 'a decent man'
- 7 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 8 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 9 Kwasi Kwarteng confirms post-Brexit review of workers' rights
- 10 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
Newspaper reports, however, have claimed senior Tory MPs want to be able to fill the House again to support a 'rattled' Boris Johnson up against Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.
Responding to claims from Chris Philp, a junior justice minister who said the government was reflecting its own advice on return-to-work rules, Burnham said: 'I think it was a really poor decision taken by MPs this week.
'We're not asking schools to come fully back, we are asking them to come back on an interim basis.
'But for parliament to vote to come back entirely sets a really bad example to the country, and let's remember Westminster was a hotbed for the spread of the virus just a few weeks ago.'
Calling the move hypocritical, the former culture minister said: 'Sometimes in parliament, it's a case of do as we say, not as we do.
'I just don't think it's acceptable.
'It doesn't suggest to me that the premier work place in the country is taking a safety first approach.'
Philp said the Commons would reconvene with special measures in place to ensure MPs remained socially distant.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
