Coronavirus: Elderly peers told to work from home by Lord Speaker Lord Fowler

Elderly peers have been told to work from home by the House of Lords Speaker Lord Fowler as he said it was not their ‘duty’ to attend Parliament during the coronavirus crisis. 

Lord Fowler, 82, announced today that he would now delegate the task of running proceedings in the upper chamber to his deputies while he works remotely.

He urged peers of a similar vintage to do the same as he cited advice from Public Health England to stay at home if you are over the age of 70 or have pre-existing serious medical conditions. 

Lord Fowler’s announcement came as Jacob Rees-Mogg said the House of Commons will continue to sit as planned until the end of the month before rising for the Easter recess. 

The Commons Leader said the lower chamber would then return to work on April 21 as already scheduled as he stressed the importance of parliament being able to pass laws which may be needed in the coming weeks and months.

The deadly outbreak has wreaked havoc on almost all aspects of life in the UK and Mr Rees-Mogg said it was the government’s view that Parliament should ‘continue to sit’ during the outbreak.

The government has asked everyone in the UK to refrain from all non-essential social contact to try to slow the spread of the virus. 

Public Health England’s social distancing guidance states that over-70s are at an ‘increased risk of severe illness’ if they contract the disease and as a result they are being urged to be ‘particularly stringent’ in staying away from other people. 

As of February last year the average age of members of the House of Lords was 70. 

Lord Fowler told peers of his decision to work from home this morning as he said it was his ‘strong view’ that the ‘best course’ was for over-70s to follow Public Health England’s recommendations. 

‘This is not only for their own good, or shall I say our own good, but for the benefit of those in our National Health Service who are working so incredibly hard in the current circumstances,’ he said.

‘Perhaps I could say softly, some of us are not just over 70 but over 80.

‘So, my Lords, reluctantly I will be withdrawing from the House for the time being but thanks to modern technology I will still be in close contact with my office, deciding private notice questions and continuing my duties as Lord Speaker.’

Lord Fowler suggested his elderly colleagues in the upper chamber should follow his lead.

‘As for the situation more generally, my advice remains that no one should consider it is their duty to be here in present circumstances,’ he said. 

‘As parliamentarians we have a duty to show leadership and heed the clear advice of the public health experts.

‘I would ask that everyone continues to reflect on their own situation and in the light of that advice for their own good and for the broader public interest.’

Meanwhile, Mr Rees-Mogg today set out the House of Commons’ business for next week and the provisional business for March 30 and 31 at which point MPs are supposed to have a break. 

He said: ‘With regard to our return on April 21, it is very important that Parliament continues to sit. 

The position of (the Government) is that Parliament will continue to sit.

‘I think this is of significance, but we need to be held to account, but we also need to be able to legislate.’