Summer recess

Am I the only one that thinks the government, faced with the pandemic uncertainty and Brexit problems in Northern Ireland, should cancel the summer recess?

 

Don't really get the point in a summer recess, unless we all get one, then I'm all for it!

 

It’s so MPs can go on holiday. They can’t just book a couple of weeks whenever they feel like, as they’d miss numerous votes in parliament.

 

Pathetic in this day and age that voting can't be done remotely or one of their staff can't vote on their behalf.

 

Don't they have pairs so that say, a Labour MP and a Tory are both absent at the same time and thus canel each other out? Besides which the pandemic has shown that MPs don't actually have to be in Westminster to vote. The recess is anachronistic and at the current time of crisis should be scrapped.

 

I tend to agree. There could be an agreement about serious matters not being put to a vote during this period, but it should be running on a day-to-day basis.

 

Well you’re all moaning about MPs having a recess why not moan about kids having 6or 7wks of school when they already have had months off.

 

Have they? Are you sure about that?

 

Neither of my kids have had "months off".

 

That isn't strictly workable.

If you have a rebel in the camp, a tory may vote against his own government and side with a Labour vote.

Then thats 2 against the government lost instead of a 'cancel each other out'

They should have an app, which allows voting then they can vote in their tax avoiding holiday home

 

There is an agreed convention of pairing, where if one person can't make a vote on one side, someone on the opposite side agrees to make way and not vote either.

Unsurprisingly there was some controversy some while ago when the government refused to honour this when a labour MP was away on maternity, so rather than lose her vote, she had to make it in to actually go through the lobbies.

 

Which is why, in my opinion remote or proxy voting has to happen.

 

Not saying the convention isn't in place. Just highlighting the flaw of it.

An app on the other hand, covers everyone. Even your scenario on maternity. Then if they don't vote they don't vote.

It's not like I don't have to be aware of my work in the coming months ahead to decide when it suits personal and work to have a break.

For such a privileged position, they shouldn't just get a holiday all at once. Moreso they should be like the rest of us

 

I don't disagree, but I don't recall pairing ever being an issue or abused until this government. Says a great deal really!

 

So who actually runs the country while all the mps are on holiday?

 

Same people as before, the donors I'm guessing.

 

Good guess mate

 

Sir Humphrey and Bernard will have it all covered. No cause for alarm.

 

It's been working throughout the pandemic. Like so many other things, like working from home etc, there's no reason why it can't continue.

 

Come the revolution...