MPs told their holiday is 'too long'

Pressure is mounting at Westminster for Members of Parliament to spend more time at work and less on holiday.

Tony Newton, Leader of the Commons, is facing a series of questions calling for a reduction in the length of recesses, particularly the summer break which usually stretches from late July to mid-October.

The Labour Party is currently considering a discussion paper designed to reform the parliamentary calendar. But no firm policy conclusions have been reached yet.

Some Labour MPs suspect that this year's summer recess may be even longer than usual, simply because it is convenient for a government with such a small majority to close down the Commons for as long as possible.

David Winnick, Labour MP for Walsall North, said he would be questioning Mr Newton in the Commons on these reports. "It looks as though they are doing this simply to get us out of the way. That is wrong," he protested.

"On the general issue, it is quite inappropriate in this day and age to have three months off in the summer."