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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith

Ministers urged to change law to let public boot out absent MPs like Matt Hancock

Ministers have been urged to change the law to allow the public to get rid of MPs who are absent for long periods without an excuse.

Neglected constituents should be able to boot out MPs like Matt Hancock, who has jetted to Australia to take part in I'm A Celebrity, or Boris Johnson who went on holiday to the Caribbean while Parliament was sitting.

Campaign group Unlock Democracy has launched a petition calling for the law to be changed.

Director Tom Brake said: "Being an MP is a serious job, with serious responsibilities. Eating fish eyes or crocodile penis isn’t.

“Any MP who neglects his or her constituents to perform bushtucker trials when Parliament is sitting should risk a different trial on their return: trial by by-election, with the by-election triggered by a petition signed by their disgruntled voters."

Boris Johnson took a lengthy holiday while Parliament was sitting (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Currently constituents can launch a petition to recall their MP if they are jailed, suspended from the house for 10 days or convicted of certain criminal offences.

If 10% of voters in their seat sign the petition, it triggers an automatic by-election.

The proposed change to the law would allow constituents to launch a recall petition if they had been “absent, without valid reason, whilst parliament is sitting, for a period of more than 5 days consecutively or a total of 10 days spread over the calendar year.”

MPs who are ill, caring for relatives or suffering family bereavement would be considered to have valid reasons.

Official parliamentary or party business would also be exempt from the change.

But even if they survive the recall petition and by-election - the MP would still have their salary reduced for the time they were absent.

Mr Brake added: “For some MPs the nitty gritty of meeting their constituents, helping them with difficult casework or scrutinising government bills is beneath them.

“They have greater priorities: self-promotion or rest and recreation.

“The Recall of MPs Act 2015 should be changed to allow those MPs' constituents to force a by-election in their constituency and to dock the MP’s pay.

“Then part-time MPs will see whether their laid back approach to their serious responsibilities is viewed as a ‘bit of a laugh’ or a sacking offence by their constituents.”

A spokesperson for Matt Hancock said: "The second reading of Matt's Dyslexia Screening and Teacher Training Bill is just days after I'm A Celebrity... finishes. By going on the show, Matt hopes to raise the profile of his dyslexia campaign and will use the platform to talk about an issue he really cares about in front of millions of people. Matt is determined that no child should leave primary school not knowing if they have dyslexia."

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