UK Parliament Resumes Amid COVID-19 Criticism

The British parliament returns on Tuesday from an extended Easter break, allowing lawmakers to scrutinise ministers as criticism grows of government handling of the coronavirus crisis and deaths outside hospitals increase.

MPs are being encouraged to attend the lower chamber House of Commons via video link for the first time as a result of the pandemic.

“My advice is please stay at home, let’s do it remotely,” Speaker of the Commons Lyndsay Hoyle told BBC radio.

Social distancing rules demanding people stay two metres (six feet) apart mean only 50 MPs will be able to sit in the 650-seat chamber at any one time.

They are instead being asked to call in via Zoom, an internet video conferencing service, in a first for the 700-year-old parliament.

Screens will be placed around the chamber so that those physically present — themselves separated by tape and signs on the green benches — can see their colleagues dialling in.

Parliament began its Easter holiday a week early last month due to the outbreak.

London was particularly hard hit and Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among many in parliament who became infected. He is still recovering after a week in hospital.

Britain remains on lockdown, with people asked to stay at home, but MPs were determined that parliament return as planned.

“In times of crisis, we must find new ways of working, just as we have done throughout history,” said Hoyle.

He added: “It will be a historic moment in our 700 years of history, to have MPs contributing to prime minister’s questions, urgent questions and statements via video link from the safety of their homes and offices.”