Boris Johnson is actively avoiding scrutiny. The House of Commons must come back from recess to hold the government to better account
He enjoys an effective Commons majority of 87, but Boris Johnson has always preferred an absent parliament to one that is sitting. When he ousted Theresa May 13 months ago, parliament went straight into a recess which Mr Johnson then tried to extend by prorogation. When the coronavirus pandemic struck in March, parliament went into recess again, and remained absent for almost a month. While thousands of Britons died, and the economy ground almost to a halt, MPs were told to stay at home, while ministers governed by press conference.
Parliament last sat on Wednesday 22 July, more than three weeks ago. It is not scheduled to sit again until Tuesday 1 September, which is more than two weeks away. Yet there are exceptionally urgent issues now facing the country. These include the continuing public health emergency itself, the deepening economic recession, the rising tide of unemployment, the Brexit negotiations and, of course, the effects of Covid on the UK nations’ school and exam systems. A properly functioning parliamentary democracy should be addressing all of them. The UK’s is not. It is therefore not functioning properly.
Continue reading…Boris Johnson is actively avoiding scrutiny. The House of Commons must come back from recess to hold the government to better accountHe enjoys an effective Commons majority of 87, but Boris Johnson has always preferred an absent parliament to one that is sitting. When he ousted Theresa May 13 months ago, parliament went straight into a recess which Mr Johnson then tried to extend by prorogation. When the coronavirus pandemic struck in March, parliament went into recess again, and remained absent for almost a month. While thousands of Britons died, and the economy ground almost to a halt, MPs were told to stay at home, while ministers governed by press conference.Parliament last sat on Wednesday 22 July, more than three weeks ago. It is not scheduled to sit again until Tuesday 1 September, which is more than two weeks away. Yet there are exceptionally urgent issues now facing the country. These include the continuing public health emergency itself, the deepening economic recession, the rising tide of unemployment, the Brexit negotiations and, of course, the effects of Covid on the UK nations’ school and exam systems. A properly functioning parliamentary democracy should be addressing all of them. The UK’s is not. It is therefore not functioning properly. Continue reading…