EXCL Labour calls for improvements to MPs' safety ahead of late-night Brexit votes
2 min read
Safety measures should be put in place to protect MPs and parliamentary staff following crunch late-night Brexit votes next week, Labour has said.
Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz has written to Speaker John Bercow asking whether the Government has requested special security arrangements for those leaving in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The Government stunned MPs by announcing that they will be given just 12 hours to debate and vote on 15 House of Lords amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill when it returns to the Commons on 12 June.
Theresa May has been accused of treating Parliament with "contempt" and of trying to "railroad" her flagship Brexit legislation through the Commons by not giving MPs enough time to debate it.
In her letter to the Speaker, which has been seen by PoliticsHome, Ms Vaz said: "The decision has been taken by the Government alone without any discussion through the usual channels. Alarmingly, none of the usual conventions and courtesies of the House have been observed.
"I am raising concerns about the safety and security of members, their staff and House staff leaving the estate at the conclusion of the debate without access to public transport. I am writing to ask if the Government have discussed whether special arrangements will be made so that members, their staff and House staff can leave the estate safely and securely.
"Whilst the Government have access to the Government car pool/ministerial cars, this is not the case with Government and opposition backbenchers, members' staff and House staff.
"This is a situation which the Government have insisted on without consideration to the safety of people leaving the estate en masse.
"I would be grateful if you could let me know what, if any, arrangements have been made as there will be no public transport at that time and it will be impossible to for all leaving the estate at the same time to access taxis."
Mr Bercow's office has been approached for comment.
Responding to criticism of the Government's decision, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "We've been clear all along that there will be time for debate on this topic. It has already been discussed at length in the House of Commons and House of Lords."
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