A return to a virtual Parliament has been dismissed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, despite people being encouraged to work from home.
SNP Commons leader Pete Wishart said: “Yesterday the Prime Minister said you should work from home if you can. Well, this House has shown that it can with our virtual participation and proxy voting.
“After the loss of public trust we now have an opportunity to lead by example and do exactly what the Prime Minister says, so will he take the Prime Minister’s calling seriously? For the sake of the people that work in here, for the sake of the people we serve, will he now turn back on the virtual Parliament?”
Mr Rees-Mogg replied: “Of course we should be here working. What the Government has said in its guidance is that you should not go into work if you don’t need to.
“Parliament does not work properly with people absent, and it is very disappointing that the Opposition is so lily-livered about holding the Government to account that it wants to go back home early – that’s not how democracy should work.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new rules will come into force as part of Plan B - the plan to slow the spread of Omicron variant Covid across the UK.
From Monday people in England are advised to work from home if they can.
