MPs set to lose Easter recess as Commons Brexit chaos continues
2 min read
MPs look set to have their Easter recess cancelled amid Britain's ongoing Brexit deadlock.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom told MPs they could be called back to the chamber on 15 and 16 April, while the first week away from Westminer has already been struck off with Brexit and other business going ahead.
While the Cabinet minister accepted “we can all agree we need a break”, she said rapidly-changing parliament business could be subject to further changes as Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May attempt to break Brexit deadlock.
She was met with some pressure to be “more definitive” by Conservative colleague Greg Hands, who was concerned about arrangements during the two-week recess.
Ms Leadsom said: “We can all agree we need a break, and certainly the staff of the House do need a break.
"We’re very conscious of the need to try and ensure people are able to meet prior commitments, as well as for many colleagues they have commitments within their constituencies that they need to fulfil.
“There is no doubt I and the Government are extremely well aware of the need for colleagues to have a break.
“On the other hand as we all know the business is changing very rapidly we are extremely keen to ensure we can leave the European Union with a deal, with a majority of the House supporting it.”
Ms Leadsom added: “In order to achieve that it requires the next few days to be quite flexible, I can only repeat I can keep the House as updated as possible.
“But certainly at the moment as I’ve said in my opening remarks, we need to retain flexibility to potentially sit on Monday 15 and 16 April.”
In recent weeks the Commons has been consumed with Brexit business and late-night votes, with the latest move seeing MPs’ push an emergency bill through the chamber in just six hours.
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