UK Health Minister: "I'm not sure if Parliament should be open"

A Minister at the heart of the UK government's response to coronavirus has spoken of the "pretty horrendous" conditions MPs are dealing with in the Houses of Parliament.

MP Nadine Dorries, the Minister of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health told us "Its not a nice place to be, I'm not sure if Parliament should be open."

Speaking to Senior Correspondent Mick Coyle, before the new tier restrictions were announced, she said: "It's a warren of corridors which are not ventilated with no windows, and 400 year old rooms with no ventilation. People are being stoic and doing their bit, but I'm not even sure if its a safe place to be open."

Nadine Dorries MP: Exclusive audio

The Minister's job role lists her as "leading" on the UK's social distancing response to Covid-19.

She insists measures are in place to try and reduce the risks for MPs and their colleagues, adding "It's not a good atmosphere, so we MPs just want this over, as fast as we can. We want to get everything back to normal, but then I think everyone wants to get back to normal, don't they?"

A government spokesperson said:

“Under the leadership of the Speaker, the House authorities have put in place robust and effective measures to ensure that the House of Commons is a covid-secure workplace.

“These measures have allowed Parliament to continue conducting its vital constitutional functions of lawmaking and scrutiny, which are essential to tackling the coronavirus pandemic.”

Scottish Lib Dem MP reveals he won't return home because of risks associated with a 1500 mile round trip

Meanwhile, the Lib Dem MP for Orkney and Shetland has revealed he won't be travelling back to Scotland this weekend, because of the risk of picking up an infection on a near 1500 mile round trip.

Alastair Carmichael was critical of the Government's decision to force all votes to take place in Westminster, rather than via remote Parliament.

Mr Carmichael told us: "I do feel as if I need to be here, but I do feel as the numbers are beginning to rise quite steeply, and you are exposed while you are travelling, and for that reason I won't be going home this weekend, I don't think its a responsible or safe thing to be doing.

"It means I don't get to see my wife and my family, but we all have a responsibility as individuals, not just to obey the rules, but to do what is best for our families and our communities."

Speaking about how safe he feels in Parliament he added: "Yes, you do feel exposed, I think now as you see the numbers rise again, you have to question the wisdom of some of the decision taken by Jacob Rees-Mogg and others, for no good reason, way back in June."

This week the Prime Minister set out a new series of restrictions for England, based on their current Covid rates.

London was placed in the first tier, reflecting the "medium" risk posed to people by coronavirus.

It means bars and pubs must close at 10pm and the rule of six applies when meeting in groups, but Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned further restrictions could be on their way.

Wider areas away from the capital have been placed in "High" risk aka Tier 2, which sees a ban on households meeting indoors.

The Liverpool City Region, where Nadine Dorries was born, has been placed in tier 3 or "Very High" risk, which sees pubs and bars close, restrictions on gyms, casinos and adult gaming centres, people not allowed to mix indoors or out, and travel in and out of the region advised against.

Find information about Coronavirus rates in your area by following this link.

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