MPs & Peers asked to wear masks in parliament

Parliamentary tours will be cancelled and MPs will be told to wear face masks following a spike in Coronavirus cases on the estate.

Committee chairs will henceforth be instructed to better ensure MPs comply with guidelines.

Non-parliamentary business such as tours and banquets are to be cancelled.

The measures will be reviewed again in two weeks.

Social distancing will also be requested, particularly in committees.

Last month former housing minister Robert Jenrick criticised plans to make face masks mandatory on the parliamentary estate for everyone except MPs.

MPs are not employed by the Commons authorities and cannot be forced to wear masks.