The British House of Commons has ordered that everyone except MPs will have to wear face coverings while on the parliamentary estate due to rising Covid-19 cases.
The measure will apply to staff, contractors and visitors but the Commons authorities said they could not compel MPs to wear masks as they are not deemed to be Parliament employees.
However, officials said Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle would be encouraging elected representatives, despite not being obliged to wear a face covering, to put one on in the Commons chamber unless they are speaking or are exempt.
A Commons spokesman said: "The House's priority is to ensure that those on the estate are safe while business is facilitated. "Due to recent increases in Covid-19 across the