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Boris Johnson needs to be held accountable during parliament’s shutdown – a virtual PMQs will help

Even if it is an imperfect, truncated form, the Commons must find a way to keep the government honest, writes Andrew Grice

Thursday 26 March 2020 14:42 GMT
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Parliament has taken its Easter recess early
Parliament has taken its Easter recess early

The House of Commons chamber will be silent for four weeks from today, after its Easter recess was brought forward by a week thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.

Some MPs suspect it will not return on schedule on 21 April. Officially, the date will he kept under review, and subject to “medical advice.” We might see the Commons sit for two days a week with reduced numbers of MPs attending.

Boris Johnson will not escape scrutiny as he will continue to hold daily Downing Street press conferences. They are now conducted remotely, which proves that he could and should also conduct a virtual version of prime minister’s questions. If he really wants proper parliamentary scrutiny, as he professes, he would make his long overdue first date with the liaison committee, which is made up of all the select committee chairs. I am not holding my breath.

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