Mps must join queues: laws

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has joined calls for MPs in Parliament not to enjoy queue jumping privileges at the expense of other staff working in parliament.

The ‘Serjeant at Arms’ or the manager of the parliamentary estate has announced that MPs will be allowed to go to the front of queues in Parliament’s shops and restaurants at all times.

MPs against the change, including David Laws, argue that it is unnecessary as MPs already have exclusive use of several restaurants in Parliament and there is already an understating that MPs have priority in lifts when a division, or vote, is called.

David Laws said,

“The announcement that MPs should be allowed to jump the queue in all the restaurants and shops in Parliament is entirely unnecessary.

“There is already an understanding in Parliament that MPs can have priority in lifts when the bell rings for a vote, as they have only 8 minutes to get to the Chamber of House of Commons. Formalising and extending this would create a two tier system which is counter to what we should be promoting in parliament – equality.

“I hope that the committee of MPs that considered this policy will reverse this decision. MPs are already seen by the public as often being out of touch without this sort of daft change in rules.”

ENDS

Category: Constituency News