At least five Conservative MPs, including Boris Johnson, and two Downing Street aides are now self-isolating for 14 days following a meeting in No 10 last week.
Mr Johnson has been accused of failing to observe his own coronavirus guidelines, as questions were raised over whether it was really essential to hold the talks with backbench MPs face-to-face last Thursday.
The development came amid growing opposition anger over Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg’s refusal to go back to the system of remote debates and voting used during the first lockdown in the spring.
The prime minister announced on Sunday that he was going into self-isolation after coming into close contact with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson, who developed symptoms on Friday and tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend.
Now three more MPs – Lia Nici of Great Grimsby, Bassetlaw’s Brendan Clarke-Smith and Andy Carter of Warrington South – have revealed that they too have gone into self-isolation as a result of the same breakfast meeting.
Two other MPs, Katherine Fletcher of South Ribble and Chris Clarkson of Heywood and Middleton, were also present, but they have not yet made clear whether they have been asked to put themselves into quarantine.
In a video message today, the prime minister said he was feeling “as fit as a butcher’s dog” but had been told to self-isolate for 14 days after being “pinged” by the NHS test and trace system. He urged others to “follow the rules”.
Labour MP Bill Esterson told The Independent that the PM’s decision to meet fellow MPs in person had itself breached guidelines, which currently require people to work from home unless their job makes it necessary for them to go out.
“This undermines the public health message yet again, because they are clearly not following social distancing guidelines,” said Mr Esterson.
“The rest of us have been meeting by Zoom, why on Earth did they have to have a face-to-face meeting?”
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said that the meeting was in the 10 Downing Street state room and that social distancing guidelines were observed.
The PM was emailed by NHS Test and Trace on Sunday and told that he would have to self-isolate because of the nature of his contact with Mr Anderson, in particular because the meeting lasted 35 minutes.
Mr Johnson has been living in his flat above 11 Downing Street since the second round of lockdown restrictions came into force in England on 5 November, said the spokesman. The PM is able to move between the flat and his office, where he is working, without coming into contact with Downing Street staff.
The spokesman declined to say whether Mr Johnson’s fiancee Carrie or their son Wilfred were with him, but pointed out that no additional restrictions are required for the households of those who are self-isolating.
“No 10 is a Covid-secure workplace,” said the spokesman. “We take every possible step. Hand sanitiser is made available as soon as people arrive in the building and as you travel through the building. People don’t have to wear masks while they are walking around, but there is a one-way system in place.”
The announcement that Mr Johnson was self-isolating came at the start of a week when he was planning to “reset” his administration in the wake of the dramatic departures of close aides Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain, with a series of high-profile interventions including the launch of a 10-point plan for climate change.
It later emerged that Mr Rees-Mogg was planning changes to allow “clinically extremely vulnerable” MPs to participate in proceedings, after Tory MP Tracey Crouch complained she was excluded from a debate on cancer because she is working from home while being treated for the illness.
Ms Crouch made clear that Mr Rees-Mogg had discussed the proposal with her before the PM’s self-isolation was announced. Downing Street said Mr Johnson is intending to take part in prime minister’s questions on Wednesday by video link, but this is still under discussion with Commons authorities.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said that the government’s refusal to return to the “hybrid” system of the spring, when all MPs could participate remotely, was “completely undemocratic”.
“Millions of voters are not being represented at the moment because MPs can’t fully participate in proceedings in the Commons,” Mr Bradshaw told The Independent. “Who is Jacob Rees-Moog to decide whether someone’s health problems are serious enough for them to be allowed to take part by video link?
“It’s completely ridiculous that MPs are still expected to traipse to and from their constituencies to take part fully in the democratic process, when the official guidance is to work from home.”
Mr Bradshaw said that last Thursday’s meeting made clear that “despite repeated denials, Downing Street is still not Covid-safe”.
“Nothing has changed,” he said. “ There’s still not adequate social distancing and no face-wearing either, it would seem. It’s not setting a very good example to the rest of the country.”
