MPs moaned Commons staff put 'personal safety' first amid Covid crisis

MPs griped that Commons staff were putting their ‘personal safety’ first during Covid crisis, ‘telling us off like children’ for flouting social distancing, and not fixing broken toilets

• EXCLUSIVE: MPs private gripes about the Commons revealed after FOI request
• Politicians complained that some staff were putting own ‘personal safety’ first
• Moaned they were being ‘told off like children’ for not obeying social distancing 

MPs griped that Commons staff were putting their ‘personal safety’ above parliamentary duties during the pandemic, it can be revealed.

Politicians also moaned that they were being ‘told off like children’ about not obeying social distancing rules – with one saying they had been rebuked for standing close to their wife.

Others complained that they had been kept waiting for toilets and air conditioning to be fixed, and that the set-up at Westminster favoured ‘white younger to middle age males’. There was also widespread frustration at the tough restrictions on numbers in the Commons chamber itself.

The comments from an internal ‘satisfaction’ survey of MPs by the House authorities were disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request by MailOnline.

The research, conducted last September and October, showed a lot of praise for the response of the officials and support staff on the parliamentary estate during the crisis. 

But some MPs did not hold back in their criticism – with the House refusing to identify them to avoid embarrassment. 

Comments from an internal ‘satisfaction’ survey of MPs by the House authorities have been disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request by MailOnline. Pictured, a view of the chamber during PMQs last month

One MP griped about the ‘extreme’ social distancing in Portcullis House, normally a hotbed of gossiping, saying they had been ‘told off by staff like a child’

‘The devotion to duty is generally very high, but there is a tendency for some House staff to regard their personal safety as paramount, not quite reflecting that this is a national emergency’ 

‘I find PCH social distancing extreme with just one chair per table when the rest of the country on rule of 6 and being told off by staff like a child rather off-putting so have stopped using any House catering facilities’ 

‘We should be much closer to normal operations. Extreme social distancing is out of line with what we ask businesses and schools to do. I was even told not to stand with my wife in Portcullis House!’ 

‘Might have answered the Office and Facilities Q differently a few weeks ago but we’ve been waiting 10 days for the air conditioning to be fixed and still no joy – it’s too hot to work’ 

‘We are back to a parliament that favours white younger to middle age males. Post Covid, I hope serious consideration is given to maintaining hybrid working rather than rushing back to the 1950s.’ 

‘I am sorry (staff) have had to cope with so many extra hardships caused by the pandemic, but they have risen magnificently to the challenge – I wish I could say the same about all the members!’ 

‘The devotion to duty is generally very high, but there is a tendency for some House staff to regard their personal safety as paramount, not quite reflecting that this is a national emergency,’ one politician said. 

‘Some are taking far more risks, as are the vast majority of Members, security staff and of course the Police… 

The same MP protested about the Library’s ‘less than objective’ assessment of the government’s Internal Market Bill – which critics said would have broken international law.

‘The Librarian has addressed this but the damage was done,’ they added. 

Another member took issue with the tight rules on socialising in Portcullis House – which pre-pandemic was a hotspot for gossiping and meetings.

‘I find PCH social distancing extreme with just one chair per table when the rest of the country on rule of 6 and being told off by staff like a child rather off-putting so have stopped using any House catering facilities,’ they said. 

The MP added: ‘The toilets on the fourth floor of One Parliament Street break rather regularly but not sure that is a staffing issue, just an inconvenience due to the age of the building.’ 

A colleague had a similar objection about the maintenance of air conditioning. 

‘Might have answered the Office and Facilities Q differently a few weeks ago but we’ve been waiting 10 days for the air conditioning to be fixed and still no joy – it’s too hot to work,’ they said. 

Another MP said they thought it was ‘discriminatory’ that they were having to ‘make the case’ for multiple passes for part-time staff.

Harsh limits have been imposed on access to the parliamentary estate for staff in order to help social distancing. 

The same MP added a series of other gripes, saying they ‘would prefer hard copies of books where possible not e-books’ in the library.

And they were extremely frustrated about the cycling racks. ‘Even with the new racks there is not enough cycle parking and some bikes in racks do not look like they have moved for some time,’ they said. 

One contribution seemed to be suggesting that there could be overnight facilities for MPs on the estate – although the authorities chose to censor the details of the response.

‘This might not be economically possible, but if you don’t ask you don’t get! Please would it be possible to [REDACTED]? We are very well looked after on the Estate all day, but [REDACTED]’ they commented. 

There were several messages cross about Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg’s determination to limit virtual contributions and remote voting.  

‘It was a political decision but wrong of the Leader of the House to claim that hybrid debated were not working,’ one MP wrote.

‘They were working well and because of the limitations of the Chamber fewer rather than more members can now participate.’

Another MP said: ‘I think it is a huge loss that we can no longer work with the Hybrid system. 

‘Even with the proxy vote, many are completely unable to engage in debates, which stifles democracy and our ability to represent our constituents. 

‘We are back to a parliament that favours white younger to middle age males. Post Covid, I hope serious consideration is given to maintaining hybrid working rather than rushing back to the 1950s.’ 

There were several anonymous messages cross about Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg’s determination to limit virtual contributions and remote voting. Pictured, a virtual contribution at PMQs last month

But there were a host of pleas for a return to ‘normal’ business at the Commons.  

‘We should be much closer to normal operations. Extreme social distancing is out of line with what we ask businesses and schools to do. I was even told not to stand with my wife in Portcullis House!’ an MP wrote. 

A different MP said: ‘I would like to see if we can’t review the seating arrangements in the chamber to 1m + to allow for more participation’ 

One MP thought they had come up with the solution to the cap on numbers in the chamber, suggesting they could be ‘spaced out in a zig zag formation’. 

Another MP was full of praise for the staff, but scathing about their colleagues.

‘I am sorry they have had to cope with so many extra hardships caused by the pandemic, but they have risen magnificently to the challenge – I wish I could say the same about all the members!’ they said. 

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