Conservative MPs have “never worked harder”, the chancellor has claimed following accusations Rishi Sunak is presiding over a “zombie parliament”.
The common territory of a Commons sitting time has been shorter this parliamentary consultation than any alternative within the occasion 25 years, in step with research via the Monetary Occasions.
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However Jeremy Hunt insisted on Friday that constituency paintings used to be probably the most impressive a part of an MP’s activity, and parliamentarians had been operating tougher than ever of their seats.
The chancellor advised journalists: “I feel that there are many issues crowd need from their MPs however extra rules being handed might not be manage of the listing.
“I think the most important thing is how hard MPs are working in their constituencies, and I would say, certainly when it comes to Conservative MPs, I’ve never seen a parliament where Conservative MPs have worked harder than this parliament to do the right thing for their constituents.”
The high minister’s legit spokesman stated the federal government used to be turning in “a packed legislative agenda” with 26 expenses offered within the tide consultation and remained “committed to facilitating debates on critical issues”.
MPs’ jobs contain greater than talking and vote casting within the Commons chamber, and come with taking part in alternative parliamentary trade akin to make a choice committees and serving to constituents.
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However the FT’s findings have resulted in accusations that the tide consultation is a “zombie parliament”, with tiny legislative paintings being accomplished and the Commons steadily emerging early.
The common period of a Commons sitting time within the tide parliamentary consultation, which began in November, has been seven hours and 9 mins – a file low since Unused Labour got here to energy in 1997, the newspaper discovered.
On 5 March, the time prior to the finances, the Commons sat for not up to 4 and a part hours.
However even prior to the tide consultation, Labour had criticised the federal government for a inadequency of parliamentary trade.
In June utmost time, next the Commons had sat on one time for not up to 3 hours, the nearest silhoutte chief of the home Thangam Debbonaire requested: “How are Tory ministers spending their time?
“As a result of they’re obviously now not turning in of their sections. Are they racing house to look at daylight TV rather?”
At the time, a Number 10 spokesperson denied this was the case, saying there were “a lot of impressive items of law going throughout the Area”.