Jacob Rees-Mogg defends not wearing a mask in the Commons, arguing regular testing shows he is not “spewing Covid”.
The Commons Leader is just one of the government frontbench not wearing a face covering in spite of concerns over case numbers in Parliament.
The House of Commons has ordered everyone other than MPs to wear masks while on the parliamentary estate.
The measure applies to staff, contractors, and visitors, but not MPs as they are not Parliament employees.
During the Budget, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other Cabinet members wore masks.
This follows last week’s Covid press conference in which Health Secretary Sajid Javid advised wearing face coverings.
Conversations surrounding reintroducing compulsory mask wearing continue as UK cases stand at 43k. Credit: Associated Press.
Despite recommendations, Mr Rees-Mogg, as well as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, did not wear a mask.
MPs Divided over Mask Rule
Shadow Commons leader, Thangam Debbonaire said: “It was good to see that yesterday almost all of the Cabinet took the Health Secretary’s advice to wear masks, I do note the Leader of the House did not, he still spears to think that a fraternal and convivial spirit will protect him from Covid.”
But, Mr Rees-Mogg responding that masks were not compulsory in the workplace and promised he has taken a test, saying: “Having taken one – I can assure her I have taken more than one over the weeks and months that have gone past – I am negative and therefore I am not going to be spewing Covid around this chamber, because I have taken a negative lateral flow test.”
He also accused Opposition MPs of “maskless dancing” during Labour Party conference in Brighton last month.
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HeadlineMaskless Jacob Rees-Mogg says he is not “spewing Covid” in the Commons
Short HeadlineRees-Mogg defends not wearing mask
StandfirstThe Commons Leader says masks are not compulsory in the workplace and claims to have had a negative lateral flow test result.
Jacob Rees-Mogg defends not wearing a mask in the Commons, arguing regular testing shows he is not “spewing Covid”.
The Commons Leader is just one of the government frontbench not wearing a face covering in spite of concerns over case numbers in Parliament.
The House of Commons has ordered everyone other than MPs to wear masks while on the parliamentary estate.
The measure applies to staff, contractors, and visitors, but not MPs as they are not Parliament employees.
During the Budget, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other Cabinet members wore masks.
This follows last week’s Covid press conference in which Health Secretary Sajid Javid advised wearing face coverings.
Conversations surrounding reintroducing compulsory mask wearing continue as UK cases stand at 43k. Credit: Associated Press.
Despite recommendations, Mr Rees-Mogg, as well as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, did not wear a mask.
MPs Divided over Mask Rule
Shadow Commons leader, Thangam Debbonaire said: “It was good to see that yesterday almost all of the Cabinet took the Health Secretary’s advice to wear masks, I do note the Leader of the House did not, he still spears to think that a fraternal and convivial spirit will protect him from Covid.”
But, Mr Rees-Mogg responding that masks were not compulsory in the workplace and promised he has taken a test, saying: “Having taken one – I can assure her I have taken more than one over the weeks and months that have gone past – I am negative and therefore I am not going to be spewing Covid around this chamber, because I have taken a negative lateral flow test.”
He also accused Opposition MPs of “maskless dancing” during Labour Party conference in Brighton last month.
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