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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: MPs told to stay out of Commons chamber | Coronavirus: MPs told to stay out of Commons chamber |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Conservative and Labour MPs not scheduled to put a query to Boris Johnson have been told to stay away from Prime Minister's Questions. | Conservative and Labour MPs not scheduled to put a query to Boris Johnson have been told to stay away from Prime Minister's Questions. |
| Amid fears over coronavirus spreading at Westminster, the government chief whip asked politicians "respectfully" to "adhere to this advice". | Amid fears over coronavirus spreading at Westminster, the government chief whip asked politicians "respectfully" to "adhere to this advice". |
| Labour urged its MPs to stay away in order to avoid "crowding". | Labour urged its MPs to stay away in order to avoid "crowding". |
| Far fewer than normal from all parties are attended the usually busy and boisterous session. | Far fewer than normal from all parties are attended the usually busy and boisterous session. |
| Speaker's support | Speaker's support |
| With the green benches far emptier than normal and the atmosphere much quieter, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle promised to ensure "maximum safety". | With the green benches far emptier than normal and the atmosphere much quieter, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle promised to ensure "maximum safety". |
| He added: "We are all doing our best to keep Parliament sitting and to follow Public Health England guidance." | He added: "We are all doing our best to keep Parliament sitting and to follow Public Health England guidance." |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised MPs' "very sensible approach, sitting apart to stop cross-fertilising" a "horrible disease". | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised MPs' "very sensible approach, sitting apart to stop cross-fertilising" a "horrible disease". |
| There has been much speculation in recent days that Parliament will close as the coronavirus crisis worsens, but there are currently no plans to do so. | There has been much speculation in recent days that Parliament will close as the coronavirus crisis worsens, but there are currently no plans to do so. |
| On Monday, Sir Lindsay said there would be no access to the public gallery, and non-essential access would be stopped. | On Monday, Sir Lindsay said there would be no access to the public gallery, and non-essential access would be stopped. |
| Several MPs have self-isolated, while Health Minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus. | Several MPs have self-isolated, while Health Minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus. |
| Conservative Michael Fabricant tweeted that Westminster was a "major hotspot for #covid19UK". | Conservative Michael Fabricant tweeted that Westminster was a "major hotspot for #covid19UK". |
| He added: "Yesterday, a colleague suddenly sneezed in the House of Commons Chamber before he could catch it in his hands, let alone a tissue. I'll watch #PMQs from my office!" | He added: "Yesterday, a colleague suddenly sneezed in the House of Commons Chamber before he could catch it in his hands, let alone a tissue. I'll watch #PMQs from my office!" |
| Labour MP Harriet Harman raised concern over "packed back benches" and a "bustling tea room" at Westminster, while the public was being urged to work from home and avoid pubs and restaurants. | |
| House of Lords Speaker Lord Fowler said: "Parliament will continue to sit. That is important. But the way we operate will have to change." |