Here at The Nopebook, we believe firmly in educating people about politics so that they can make free and informed political choices. This post is part of our Politics 101 series, where we aim to equip people with the information they need to make sound political decisions.
—
It is a truth universally acknowledged that as soon as you leave full time education, summer holidays cease to exist. Where once you spent long, lazy summers hanging out in parks (read: in your bedroom), now you’re expected to work all summer long, bar any pre-approved Annual Leave.
This is understandable. After all, the world does not stop turning between June and September. There are still clothes to be sold and bought, offices to be manned, streets to be cleaned, and food to be served. If we all just took a massive summer holiday, the world would go to hell in a handbasket, right?
So why then does the government-you know, that thing that supposedly stops society from disintegrating into an ugly mess-stop over the summer? Why do MPs get a Summer Recess, as it’s called?
In fact, why do they get any recesses at all? Why does Parliament break in October, November, December, and most of the summer? Why, when the rest of us are expected to fight it out with our colleagues and bosses for a fortnight off, do MPs get given what seem to resemble school holidays?
What is the Summer Recess?
Parliament takes several breaks-or ‘recesses’ during a ‘session’ (year) of Parliament. These are periods in which neither the House of Commons nor the House of Lords meet to conduct business.
This year, MPs ‘broke up’ for summer on the 20th July, and won’t return until the 5th September. They’ll also take a recess from the 14th September until the 9th October for party conferences; from the 7th November and 13th November for reasons I’m not quite sure (look, I don’t have a politics degree. I’m sorry); and from the 21st December until the 8th January for Christmas.
What Do MPs Do During a Recess?
During a recess, MPs work in their local constituencies (y’know, the places they’re supposed to represent), holding ‘surgeries’ (think of these like university professors’ ‘drop in’ hours) and replying to correspondence (i.e. angry tweets and emails.
They also attend local events, attend party conferences (as is the case in September), and generally find out what’s going on in the real world, outside of the Houses of Parliament.
They can also go on holiday in this time. Cos apparently MPs are humans too and like to sun themselves in Ibiza*.
What If There’s an Emergency?
If, for example, Donald Trump tried to start World War Three or Jeremy Corbyn supporters tried to overthrow the British Monarchy, then the Speaker of the House of Commons can call both the Commons and the Lords back to business to discuss matters.
For example, in April 2013 the House was called back to pay tributes to Margaret Thatcher, who had just died. Similarly, in June 2016, Parliament was recalled following the murder of Labour MP, Jo Cox.
—
*We’re pretty sure MPs don’t holiday in Ibiza. Apart from Jeremy Corbyn, probably.
