Speaker says Tory MP sent ‘offensive’ email after parliamentary Covid rules were tightened

The Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has criticised a Conservative MP for a “pretty offensive” email regarding the tightening of Covid guidelines in Parliament.

After Karl McCartney, the member for Lincoln, told the Commons that news of the fresh restrictions had reached the press before MPs were briefed, the Speaker explained: “I’m very pleased in the way you’ve approached the question to me – a bit better than your email earlier today, which was pretty offensive so I think we ought to think about how we address each other in emails.”

It was reported this morning that 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 and 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.