MEMBERS of Parliament are being told to wear face coverings as measures to limit the spread of coronavirus have been stepped up on the parliamentary estate. 

The UK Health Security Agency has determined the risk of transmission of Covid-19 on the parliamentary estate has increased.

In recent weeks, House of Commons leader Jacob Rees Mogg MP, who represents North Somerset, has defended Conservative MPs who have chosen not to wear masks. 

New measures include the cancellation of non-parliamentary business activity such as tours and banqueting activity at the Palace of Westminster.

Chairs of meetings will be urged to take a stronger role in ensuring compliance with face coverings. 

Face coverings were already compulsory for staff, contractors and journalists, unless they had a legitimate exemption.  

MPs are not required to wear a face covering in Parliament because are not employed by the Commons authorities. 

Most opposition MPs have chosen to wear masks in the House of Commons, but many conservatives have not. 

Last week, Mr Rees-Mogg argued regular testing shows he is not "spewing Covid" in the chamber. 

He previously claimed that Tory MPs’ "convivial, fraternal spirit" meant they did not need to wear masks because the advice to wear a covering only applied in crowded spaces with people you do not normally mix with.

Mr Rees-Mogg was one of several leading Conservatives, including foreign secretary Liz Truss and transport secretary Grant Shapps, who did not wear masks during last week's Budget announcement. 

Somerset County Gazette: MASKLESS: Jacob Rees-Mogg MP sits next to Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Rishi Sunak's Budget announcement (Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)MASKLESS: Jacob Rees-Mogg MP sits next to Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Rishi Sunak's Budget announcement (Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)

Prime minister Boris Johnson did wear a face covering while chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered the Budget.  

A parliamentary spokesman said: "The House’s priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated.

"There have been recent increases in Covid-19 across the country and these are also being reflected in Parliament.

"The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has determined that the risk of transmission on the parliamentary estate is now greater.

"As a consequence, some further action is being taken to ensure that case numbers do not continue to rise.

"The measures will be reviewed in two weeks’ time."

The speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has encouraged MPs to wear a face covering in the chamber unless they are exempt or speaking. 

Despite the concerns of the spread of the virus on the parliamentary estate, the City of Westminster as a whole has the second-lowest rate of coronavirus cases in the UK.