Tuesday April 14th 2020
Owen Thompson asking a question in the House of Commons before it was closed.
Owen Thompson MP has called for the UK Parliament to be immediately recalled, using video conferencing technologies, so the Government’s response to coronavirus can be put to democratic scrutiny more quickly.
Mr Thompson added his name to a cross party letter from MPs and peers calling for the immediate (virtual) recall of parliament in light of the current crisis.
Mr Thompson said:-
“This is a national emergency costing lives and livelihoods every single day. The people of Midlothian are rightly raising many questions and as their MP I need to be able to ask them of the government right now, not kick the can down the road for a later date.
“It’s not good enough that MPs are left to rely on letters to Ministers, often waiting weeks for a response. We need urgent parliamentary questions to be asked and answered on a daily basis, and statements made by Ministers to parliament, not just to the media.
“I urge the UK Government to recall parliament immediately – albeit remotely – so MPs from all parts of the UK can raise vital issues on behalf of their constituents.
“The UK Parliament may be an archaic old institution but if ever there were a time for modernisation this is it. At this time of crisis we need to get video conferencing technologies up and running and get parliament meeting again now, by whatever means possible.”
The cross-party letter
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