Speaker Hoyle reprimands Labour over timing of Chagos handover announcement

The Speaker of the House of Commons has reprimanded the government over the manner in which it announced the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it was “frustrating” for MPs to hear about announcements via the media and not in the House of Commons where they can scrutinise government proposals.

Sir Lindsay said: “It is frustrating for honourable members on both sides of the House, when major planned announcements are scheduled during periods when the House is not sitting particularly towards the end of recess.”

He added: “The minister should come to the House to announce the policies in the first instance [even] if that means waiting a few days.

“And the excuse that we may have an election elsewhere in the world is not my concern because it is the elected members in this House on both sides that I represent.”

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