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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/uk-parliament-to-close-early-for-easter-amid-coronavirus-fears
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| UK parliament to close early for Easter amid coronavirus fears | UK parliament to close early for Easter amid coronavirus fears |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Debate on adjournment until 21 April will take place once emergency laws pass | Debate on adjournment until 21 April will take place once emergency laws pass |
| Parliament is to close for Easter a week early amid fears that coronavirus has been spreading fast through Westminster. | Parliament is to close for Easter a week early amid fears that coronavirus has been spreading fast through Westminster. |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, laid a motion saying parliament will adjourn on Wednesday night for a month until 21 April. | Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, laid a motion saying parliament will adjourn on Wednesday night for a month until 21 April. |
| The adjournment debate will take place only after emergency legislation has been passed through the Commons and Lords giving the government extraordinary powers to detain people flouting the new curbs on behaviour. | The adjournment debate will take place only after emergency legislation has been passed through the Commons and Lords giving the government extraordinary powers to detain people flouting the new curbs on behaviour. |
| Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, was challenged on whether the adjournment would prevent proper scrutiny of the government’s coronavirus response, after speculation that parliament could end up being shuttered for months. | |
| Jenrick insisted parliament would return after Easter as usual, potentially with some changes such as committee meetings held remotely. | Jenrick insisted parliament would return after Easter as usual, potentially with some changes such as committee meetings held remotely. |
| “It will return in the usual way so MPs can continue to hold the government to account. We live in a democracy so it is absolutely essential the government is held to account particularly in times like this. Parliament will return,” he said. | “It will return in the usual way so MPs can continue to hold the government to account. We live in a democracy so it is absolutely essential the government is held to account particularly in times like this. Parliament will return,” he said. |
| “There has been another order in parliament to create ways for select committees to operate remotely. Innovation will happen to make it possible for MPs to hold us to account and that is absolutely right.” | “There has been another order in parliament to create ways for select committees to operate remotely. Innovation will happen to make it possible for MPs to hold us to account and that is absolutely right.” |
| Parliament will have to return to vote on the finance bill after Easter but MPs expect a gradual return with restrictions rather than a full reopening of Westminster. | |
| At least 20 MPs are confirmed or suspected to have had coronavirus, and No 10 officials, members of parliamentary staff and political journalists are also among those who are isolating. | |
| The first confirmed case among MPs was Nadine Dorries, who has since returned to work as a health minister. | |
| Parliament has continued sitting with some changes to voting to ensure that MPs are not crowding into lobbies together but keeping their distance. |