Good morning,

Parliament is due to return to work next week and plans to do so virtually have been outlined by the Commons Commission. Meanwhile, Number 10 continues to rebuff any idea of an extension to the transition period. As always we have a collection of recommended reading for you.

Enjoy,
Jacob

In Politics

Number 10 say No to Transition Extension

Number 10 rejects extending the transition period
Negotiation talks to resume virtually
Big gaps remain between the EU and the UK leading to lots of uncertainty as to what to expect the future deal to look like

Number 10 has put out a hardline rejection to the idea of an extension to the transition period. According to the FT a Downing Street official said ‘We will not ask to extend the transition. And, if the EU asks, we will say no.’

This comes after weeks of building pressure on the UK Government to request an extension to the transition period because of the coronavirus. Previously the Welsh First Minister, European People’s Party, and now the Managing Director of the IMF has urged the EU and the UK to agree to an extension to avoid ‘unprecedented uncertainty’.

Talks had been frozen due to the virus. Negotiators have been ill or self-isolating, governments on both sides are focused on combating the virus. However, talks have now restarted between the EU and the UK. The talks will take place online rather than face to face and are scheduled for the week beginnings 20th April, 11th May, and 1st June.

There is still a significant gulf between the EU and UK aims, outlined by the Institute for Government, but very little time for the two sides to cross it. The UK will have to decide if they want an extension by the end of June and as coronavirus continues this may change minds. Lewis Goodall, Newsnight Policy Editor, has a useful thread on why Number 10’s tough talk now might change come July here. Essentially the economics might force the hand as the Government will be unlikely to want to deepen a predicted bad economic recession.

This uncertainty about what is going to happen at the end of the year will cause issues for civil society and business alike. We are currently no closer to knowing what the future relationship between the EU and the UK looks like. The gaps between the two mean it is also difficult to predict.

Furthermore, the world is, rightly so, busy combating coronavirus. This means in the UK there is significantly less capacity to scrutinise the future Brexit deal and key Brexit legislation because of the coronavirus. Civil society and MPs are both fighting with their local communities against the virus. This means the Government, under their current strategy, could agree a deal with the EU or go for a no-deal Brexit in December 2020 without proper scrutiny from civil society, business or parliamentarians because of the virus taking up so much capacity.

We wait to see if there is any breakthrough in the virtual talks between the EU and the UK, however currently the Government is going ahead with their Brexit policy as though nothing has changed.

In Policy

Virtually Ready

Commons to meet virtually using Zoom
MPs encouraged to work remotely
Questions over the effectiveness of measures to enable MPs to scrutinise Ministers

This week, in what can only be described as a great bit of commercial PR for the video conferencing application Zoom, the House of Commons Commission announced that ‘MPs are set to be able to quiz ministers via Zoom for the first time in the House of Commons 700 Year history’. This emphasises the unprecedented nature of the move to a virtual Parliament. Meanwhile, the Lords will use Microsoft Teams.

The details of the proposal include having a maximum of up to 50 MPs in the physical chamber with up to 120 MPs, at any one time, taking part virtually. There will be screens set up in the chamber for those who are tuning in virtually to be seen by other MPs sat there physically. If there are issues with audio then the Speaker will make accommodation for MPs to ask their question later in the proceedings.

The proposals need to be approved by the MPs who decide to physically go in when recess ends next week. MPs are expected to approve them. If approved then some of the first business done via this method will be PMQs on the 22nd April.

There are concerns about the effectiveness of scrutiny in these plans. The statement from the Commission says ‘there can be no opportunity for interventions and no points of order should be raised when hybrid proceedings are underway.’ and more fundamentally votes are still expected to be taken physically, as confirmed by CNN, the Speaker said ‘While it will still be possible for votes...these will still be restricted to members sat in the chamber itself’.

These developments cause some concern as it means scrutiny on Government Ministers and legislation is significantly impacted. How can MPs be encouraged to work remotely if there is then key legislation they need to vote on physically? How are MPs meant to raise objections to Ministers if key mechanisms for doing so are removed? What will happen if more than 120 MPs want to take part in a debate? Questions that need to be answered, while also guaranteeing staff and MPs safety.

In response to concerns about voting the Speaker has asked parliamentary staff to look into enabling virtual voting and the statement by the Commission makes it clear that these provisions are to the best that can be done at speed. This leaves open the possibility for improvements to a virtual parliament.

Dr Ruth Fox, Hansard Society, and Professor Meg Russell, Constitution Unit, has published a piece exploring many of the concerns about a virtual Parliament in greater detail. Read it here

Recommended Reading

The Constitution Unit looked into Parliament might adapt its working to the coronavirus here
UK refuses EU request for a Belfast office in Northern Ireland covered by RTE here
UK in a Changing Europe explains about an EU presence in Northern Ireland after Brexit here
Unlock Democracy has launched a podcast called Democracy in Lockdown. This week they discuss civil liberties in lockdown. Download it here
House of Commons Library has an insight into the progress of the EU Settlement Scheme here
Equally Ours have updated their COVID-19 resource hub here
The Migration Observatory have published a report on the EU Settlement Scheme here