Michael Gove has cancelled Thursdays in parliament, to the delight of Tories. The chief whip has written to his party’s MPs saying they are unlikely to be needed in Westminster on Thursdays between now and the election.
They are now expected to attend parliament for just two and a half days, from 3.30pm on a Monday until the end of business on Wednesdays.
Thursdays will be treated as a one-line whip, meaning MPs are not required to attend. They are expected to use the time to campaign for re-election, although those in safe seats are unlikely to regard this as a burden.
The decision was revealed in a private note to Tory MPs earlier this month. MPs will be forced to come back in the