I'll cut 'giant' three-month summer holiday for MPs, vows new Speaker

Published on Friday 18 December 2009 22:09

MPS will have their summer recess cut by around five weeks by Commons Speaker John Bercow in a bid to draw a line under public furore over the expenses scandal.

The new Speaker, who replaced Glasgow MP Michael Martin in the role, is keen for MPs to return to Parliament in early September, as opposed to October after the party conference season.

This year, the House of Commons had a 13-week summer break and MPs sat for just 143 days. However, the Speaker's reforms will still mean that MPs sit for little over half the year.

A source close to Mr Bercow confirmed that he was eager to drag Parliament into the 21st century with more modern working practices.

"He is keen to get the House back around early or mid-September. Whoever wins the election will be too embarrassed to change this. There is an attempt to try and bring this more into line with the school calendar. There is no reason why committees should not sit some days during September as well. Not as many MPs go to party conferences any more, which only last up until Wednesdays anyway," said the source.

Refurbishment work around the Palace of Westminster has been rescheduled in line with this, the source added.

In the midst of the recession, parties considered confining their conferences to weekends. Labour's party conference this autumn was sparsely attended by MPs and delegates, with many more lobbyists flocking to the Conservatives' conference in Manchester in the belief that they would win the next general election. Opinion polls have since narrowed, however.

Although MPs insist that they work for most of the summer recess in their constituencies, Mr Bercow admits that the public's perception is that they are on holiday for three months. He wants to restore public confidence in the Commons after the fallout over the expenses revelations.

"Parliament has got to show it is listening to public opinion and addressing concerns," said a senior source. "We know MPs are working in their constituencies during the recess, but the public often assume it is a giant holiday. People want to know they are being represented in Parliament and that ministers are being held to account."

September sittings have been tried before – in 2003 and 2004 – but were scrapped after opposition from whips and MPs. Parliament can be recalled during recess, however, to discuss matters of national importance.

Mr Bercow was elected on a modernising platform when he stood for the role of Speaker. This week, he announced plans to create a creche on the parliamentary estate for up to 40 children. It will mean scrapping a recently refurbished bar, the legendary Bellamy's, but Mr Bercow believes it will be worth it.

One of his first acts was to dispense with the historic Speaker's frilly costume. Mr Bercow wears a simple black gown over his suit and tie. Other reforms the Speaker is considering include scrapping late-night sittings on Tuesdays so MPs can spend more time with their families.

Such a move would disadvantage Scots MPs whose families live in their constituencies, however.

Mr Bercow has three children and has revamped the palatial Speaker's House overlooking the Thames to make it more child-friendly.