Unions representing staff in Parliament have blasted "reckless" MPs who refused to wear a face mask for a packed Commons debate on Afghanistan.
Parliament was recalled for an emergency debate on Wednesday, but dozens of MPs failed to wear a face covering.
At the start of the debate, that included all of the Government frontbench and most Conservative backbenchers, the Prospect, FDA, PCS, GMB unions have said.
Some Labour and Lib Dem MPs also failed to wear a face covering.
Though social distancing curbs for the Chamber have been lifted, Government guidance states face masks should be worn in crowded places.
The four unions have said the "shameful episode" came amid an uptick in positive Covid cases among security staff on the parliamentary estate
When pressed on why so few MPs were wearing masks, a Downing Street spokesman said it was a "matter for the parliamentary authorities".
But on July 5, at a No10 press conference on Covid, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I will obviously wear a mask in crowded places … to protect others and as a matter of simple courtesy.”
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has previously said he expects MPs to wear face masks as a precaution.
The unions have now written to Mr Hoyle asking him to take action.
General Secretary of Prospect, Mike Clancy, said: “The attempt by the Prime Minister’s spokesperson yesterday to claim that the parliamentary authorities, and not individual MPs, are responsible for masks in the chamber was deliberately misleading and outrageous.
“The Speaker has made it abundantly clear that he expects MPs to wear masks, and Prospect has written to all MPs asking them to take this basic step to protect staff, a step that the PM himself described as ‘simple courtesy’ only last month.
“Unions will not stand by while staff are put at risk by reckless politicians and following this shameful episode we are once again asking the Speaker to take a tougher line with MPs when parliament returns next month.”
Wednesday's debate was the first time Parliament has been sitting without social distancing restrictions for 17 months.
