Petition · past parliament · Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Introduce a requirement for MPs to attend Parliament when the House is sitting

Closed 513 signatures

What the petition asks

Despite lengthy parliamentary recesses, individual MPs can go on holiday even when the House is sitting.
Children have to attend school in term time, and parents can be penalised for taking them on holiday.

We want similar rules about MPs attending Parliament to be introduced.

MPs to be bound by a requirement which means to be absent from Parliament outside of recess, they must seek permission of the Speaker of the House, with the exception of illness (with either self-certification or doctors note) or constituency business.

There should be fines for MPs that fail to attend Parliament without a valid reason or having sought permission.

Timeline

27 Oct 2022 Petition opened for signatures
27 Apr 2023 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 513
Status Closed
Department Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Opened 27 Oct 2022
Closed 27 Apr 2023

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.