October 23, 200916 yr Christmas comes earlier than ever for MPs as they are given a three-week festive break By James Chapman Last updated at 8:11 AM on 23rd October 2009 Comments (92) Add to My Stories Harriet Harman faced a storm of protest after announcing MPs will break up for Christmas on December 16 - the earliest date since records began. The Conservatives attacked the Commons Leader's announcement of a three-week holiday as damning evidence that the Government has 'run out of steam'. Her Tory counterpart Sir George Young said ministers appeared devoid of ideas for new legislation and protested that most citizens would be working way beyond December 16. Out of office: Harriet Harman announced the Commons will rise for Christmas on December 16, the earliest date on record More... MPs' expenses audit to cost taxpayers more than £1m The Tories pledged to vote against the recess dates and challenged the Liberal Democrats and Labour backbenchers to join them. Outrage: Sir George Young has pledged to vote against Labour's planned Christmas recess dates They also seized on Miss Harman's refusal to announce dates for next year's Easter recess, as expected, fuelling speculation that the Prime Minister will announce a General Election in early May. The Christmas break comes after MPs' long 82-day summer holiday. All in all, at 128 days, the current Parliamentary session is the shortest for 30 years. Parliament's records show the latest it has risen for its Christmas recess is December 23, in both 1981 and 1982. Last year the recess began on December 18. Miss Harman defended the Christmas break, which will run until January 5, insisting MPs had two places of work - Parliament and their constituencies. 'We keep under review the question of the balance between when MPs are working in the House of Commons and when MPs are working in their constituencies,' she said. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222262/MPs-set-holiday-bonanza-week-Christmas-break-announced-shortly-following-mammoth-summer-holiday.html#ixzz0UkpjPTL3
October 26, 200916 yr Her Tory counterpart Sir George Young said ministers appeared devoid of ideas for new legislation and protested that most citizens would be working way beyond December 16. They've run out of laws to write?? Heavens, no! Get back to work! Quick! We need more ways to beat people, lock them up, and take their money!
October 29, 200916 yr How nice, people like Brown, Harman and Mandelson deserve a holiday! :D :dozey:
October 29, 200916 yr How nice, people like Brown, Harman and Mandelson deserve a holiday! :D :dozey: A very long holiday, maybe to the middle of the next decade maybe ;)
October 29, 200916 yr given my usual 2 week xmas break plus more than that for paternity leave, I will hardly be in work for the whole of December. Happy days! :D
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