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Jacob Rees-Mogg accused of double standards over Covid safety in Commons

THE Prospect union accused Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg today of double standards over coronavirus safety of parliamentary staff and MPs.

Having previously called for staff to be allowed to take photos of MPs who do not follow rules, general secretary Garry Graham said that the union’s suggestions have been “repeatedly rebuffed.”

He accused MPs of “liberally” breaching Parliament’s official no-photo rule in June during Tory MP Mr Rees-Mogg’s “ridiculous conga,” an extremely long queue that formed due to MPs remaining two metres apart while waiting to vote.

Mr Graham said that senior MPs’ concerns have now prompted calls for masks to be worn in some situations. 

He added: “A cynic would ask why the Leader of the House suddenly takes an interest when a handful of his mates have concerns, but ignores the collective voice of the parliamentary workers who have been asking for action for weeks.”

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka told the Star that security, catering, and support staff have “consistently warned” that social distancing is “next to impossible” to observe in the Commons.

He added: “That is why we have been opposed to ending the hybrid Parliament system.”

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