MPs go on Easter recess for nearly THREE WEEKS from tonight despite government preparing a flurry of crucial Covid lockdown moves
- The House of Commons goes into recess at the end of today and returns April 13
- Government plans to make series of key lockdown announcements before then
- Boris Johnson is expected to give press conferences giving news on roadmap
MPs are going on an Easter break for nearly three weeks from today despite the government planning a flurry of crucial lockdown moves.
At the end of its business this evening the House of Commons will break up and not return until April 13.
That is the day after non-essential shops and hairdressers are due to be allowed to reopen – and pubs and restaurants should be allowed to start serving customers outdoors again.
The recess means that MPs will not be able to scrutinise ministers as they make a series of crucial decisions and announcements that would typically happen in the Commons chamber.
Mr Johnson is expected to host a press conference from the new £2.6million Downing Street briefing room on Monday, when the stay at home order will be formally lifted.
MPs are going on an Easter break for nearly three weeks from today despite the government planning a flurry of crucial lockdown moves
MPs are not due to be back until April 13, the day after non-essential shops and hairdressers are due to be allowed to reopen – and pubs and restaurants should be allowed to start serving customers outdoors again
From that point the Rule of Six will return, and two separate households will be able to mix outdoors.
Mr Johnson is also expected to address the nation again from Downing Street on April 5 so he can give a week’s notice before the measures in the roadmap take effect.
Announcements on ‘vaccine passports’ and whether foreign holidays will be allowed this summer are also on the cards before the Commons returns from its break.
Although MPs can be recalled from recess this typically only happens when urgent issues need to be considered – such as the Brexit deal being struck over Christmas.
Up to 60 Conservative lockdown sceptics are threatening to vote against an extension of lockdown laws until the autumn on the final day before the Easter break.
MPs will vote tonight plans to extend emergency powers to the end of September, despite the lockdown officially ending in June.
Politicians in the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) blasted the ‘significant draconian powers’ and questioned the need for them to be in place if the UK has returned to relative normal.
However, any Tory rebellion is doomed to fail with Labour refusing to join them in the Noe lobbies.
While visiting the the Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery in Greenford, west London, today, Mr Johnson told reporters that the review on vaccination certificates should be complete before April 13.
He added: ‘All sorts of things are being considered. What we want to do is roll out the vaccine programme and see what that builds in terms of general resistance to the virus. And I do think there is going to be a role for certification.
‘What we’ve said is that we’ll be reporting on the work of the certification group in early April, either on April 5 or on April 12.’
While visiting the the Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery in Greenford, west London, today, Mr Johnson told reporters that the review on vaccination certificates should be complete before the Commons comes back on April 13
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