Walsall MP raises safety fears ahead of Brexit night voting
Safety measures should be put in place to protect MPs and their staff following crunch late-night Brexit votes in the Commons next week, a West Midlands Labour MP has said.
Walsall South MP 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.
She said that while ministers attending the debate were able to leave in ministerial cars, there were no such privileges laid on for backbenchers, their staff and Commons staff.
The Government told MPs 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 June 12.
Theresa May has been accused of treating Parliament with 'contempt' and of trying to 'railroad' Brexit legislation through the Commons by not giving MPs enough time to debate it.
In her letter to the Speaker, shadow Commons leader 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."
Responding to criticism of the Government's decision on the length of the debate, 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."
