MPs dash back to London before Parliament resumes

MPs are having to make last-minute journeys across the UK to ensure they are back before Parliament resumes on Wednesday.

Following the news that the Prime Minister’s decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks was unlawful, they have to return to Westminster for 11.30am.

However, not everyone is on their way back to London.

Norfolk MP Keith Simpson, who announced earlier this month he would not stand in the next general election, is on holiday and will not be back for another 10 days.

He tweeted: “Oh dear oh dear the Supreme Court has rained on the PMs parade. I am on holiday off the coast of Alaska and not back until the 5th October. What a series of cock ups by Bojo!”

Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tim Loughton, said he “resented” the assumption that MPs were only now returning to work.

He wrote on Twitter: “An MPs work does not go on exclusively in the chamber of the House of Commons or we would never get much done.”

Daventry’s Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris is having to return from Gdansk, having just arrived for the Trako Rail conference.

He wrote on Twitter: “Well… having just arrived in Gdansk for the great TRAKO Rail Export conference, I am now returning to the UK as Parliament has been recalled. Many apologies to TRAKO attendees, delegates and all those in the UK Pavilion who I won’t be seeing/supporting tomorrow.”

Other MPs have had to cancel meetings at the last minute to make sure they are back in time.

Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy tweeted: “As ever, I’m going to try to be in two places at once! I’ll be in Westminster this afternoon but then heading to Brighton as I’m speaking at a fringe meeting tonight. The plan was then to head back to Bristol, but I guess that’s not happening now…”

SNP for Glasgow Central Alison Thewliss added: “Frustrating to have to cancel meetings with constituents at short notice, but will do all I can to rearrange. We have to hold this shambolic UK Government to account.”

Two MPs found themselves without parliamentary passes and faced having to use temporary ones to access the chamber.

Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted: “Caught away from home without my parliamentary pass or in fact any work shoes. Oh well, needs must.”

Another Labour MP, who had been attending the party conference in Brighton, Alex Sobel, said: “Guess who didn’t take their Parliamentary Pass to Conference! Wonder how many MPs will be having to use a temporary pass!”