Commons speaker calls for daily Covid-19 testing for MPs

6 September 2020, 07:20 | Updated: 6 September 2020, 07:34

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he wants MPs to be tested every day
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he wants MPs to be tested every day. Picture: PA

By Maddie Goodfellow

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he wants MPs to be tested every day to allow packed scenes in the Commons to return.

There are currently strict rules in force in Parliament to prevent the spread of Covid-19, with the number of people allowed in both chambers limited to allow for social distancing of two metres, leading some senior politicians to claim the Commons is missing its usual spark.

Sir Lindsay said he and Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg had ruled out the use of masks, which would allow gaps between MPs to be lowered to one metre, but that he had lobbied for daily testing for elected representatives in a bid to pave the way for more participation in debates.

The comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly told Tory backbenchers this week he wanted to see Parliament "back to normal" by Christmas.

Boris Johnson has said he wants parliament "back to normal by Christmas"
Boris Johnson has said he wants parliament "back to normal by Christmas". Picture: PA

Sir Lindsay said: "To be quite honest with you, I'd like to do it daily, not weekly. The problem is weekly testing doesn't tell you anything.

"I'll be quite honest with you, I've made approaches to the NHS and Government to say, look, why can't we have a testing system?

"What we would need is a quick turnaround of tests in order that we can get MPs in.

"We're looking at it. I personally would have had the heat screening equipment in to test temperatures."

But he said Mr Rees-Mogg had concurred that asking MPs to wear a mask while on the green benches "really wouldn't work" as it would make recognition more difficult and be an obstacle to making speeches.

Shelagh Fogarty challenges Tory MP on Government performance

The former Labour MP, when asked about Mr Johnson's desire to see Parliament return to its pre-Covid ways by the end of the year, said he wanted to see it happen but vowed not to "compromise health and safety".

"We are a Covid-secure workplace - if we were to lose that status, the game is over," he told the radio station.

"It's about working in an efficient way. If people don't need to be here, why would we have them here."

The Speaker also admitted Tory leader Mr Johnson's line of attack on Labour's Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions this week had made him feel uncomfortable.

The Prime Minister accused Sir Keir of being a "leader of the Opposition who supported an IRA-condoning politician" - a reference to Jeremy Corbyn's past campaigning - but Sir Lindsay intervened, calling on Mr Johnson to "try to answer the questions that have been put" to him.

The 63-year-old said: "To make accusations of people is not a good way forward. The chamber sets the tone, and that was not a good tone I wanted to see.

"To accuse somebody of basically being a supporter of the IRA, someone who had actually prosecuted the IRA, was touching a nerve of something I didn't quite like.

"I wasn't comfortable with it. If I'm not comfortable with it, how is the person who was receiving it? We've got to look at it in that way."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Soham monster murderer Ian Huntley has sparked outrage by wearing a number 10 Man Utd-style football shirt in an apparent reference to his victims - 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Soham monster Ian Huntley 'wears Man Utd-style top' in apparent sick reference to 10-year-old victims

Dozens of Russian spies have been sanctioned by the Government - including 18 military intelligence officers who the Foreign Office says are responsible for malicious cyber-attacks on Britain.

Revealed: Russian spies sanctioned for cyber attacks including on Salisbury Novichok victim Yulia Skripal

Demonstration on the eve of parliament voting to proscribe Palestine Action.

Five charged over break-in at weapons firm Elbit Systems UK during Palestine Action protest

A fund has been launched in memory of the two men who were found dead in the holiday pool

Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend’ in Portugal

The tech firm whose CEO was caught seemingly having an affair with his colleague on the kisscam at a Coldplay gig has broken its silence after a fake statement from the CEO went viral.

Tech firm launches investigation into CEO caught 'having an affair' on kisscam with HR chief at Coldplay gig

Distressing footage Body worn footage shows PC Lydia Ward being comforted by colleagues as she is bleeding from the nose after she tried to arrest an assault suspect at Manchester Airport.

Student tells court he 'did not know' police officers he hit at Manchester Airport were women

Sandie Peggie is the claimant in the tribunal case against NHS Fife.

NHS Fife calls in cops over threats to staff in controversial tribunal case

Arsenal unveil new signing Noni Madueke at Sobha Realty Training Centre on July 18, 2025 in London Colney, England.

Arsenal complete £50m transfer of Chelsea forward amid ‘bullying’ by section of fans

Appearing in Woolwich Crown Court, each member of the group of eight were jailed for their involvement in supplying nearly a tonne of cocaine over seven months.

Drug dealing ‘gangster granny’ who led family in lucrative £1k-a-day cocaine operation jailed for 20 years

Patrick Howlett, 58

Man who sent £56,000 to Philippines for livestreamed sexual abuse of children jailed for 30 years

The chancellor seems likely to freeze fuel duty once again in the autumn Budget, easing a burden on thousands of households amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Major cost of living boost as fuel duty to be frozen once again

The explosion happened at Biscailuz Center Academy Training.

At least three people killed in 'horrific incident' at Los Angeles sheriff training facility

Jess Glynne usually closes her shows with Hold My Hand, which has become her signature song

Fans chant 'nothing beats a Jet2 holiday' at Jess Glynne concert

Farzana Kauser, 54,

Bradford mum was family crime group boss who used her children in international cocaine plots

Jayden, who was a passenger on the bus and was treated for a suspected broken collarbone, with his mum, Kim outside Minehead Middle Schoo

'I remember climbing out': Pupil opens up about horror Somerset coach crash as boy, 10, dead

Isa Giga

Man who travelled to Syria to 'fight for Jihad’ convicted of terrorism offence