LABOUR have called for the Scottish Parliament to be closed to the public because of the coronavirus. They say the move would “substantially cut the risk to elected members” and allow MSPs to keep working.

The party’s business manager Elaine Smith has written to Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh arguing that increasing pressures on cleaning staff could be eased if the debating chamber’s public gallery, shop and toilets were shut, in an attempt to keep the building open for MSPs as long as possible.

The current position, based on advice from Scotland’s chief medical officer, is that “there are unlikely to be any public health benefits to restricting public access at the Parliament at this stage”.

In an email to parliamentary staff and MSPs on Thursday, the parliament’s chief executive, David McGill, said the situation was under constant review, and also announced MSPs’ staff would now be eligible for paid leave if they need to self-isolate for illness related to Covid-19.

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In her letter, Smith said: “As we were advised last week, there are now increasing pressures on the cleaning contract and the staff that the private contractor employs.

“If we close to the public and also close the public gallery, cafe, shop, toilets etc, then efforts could be employed to concentrate on cleaning elsewhere in the building.

“I presume the aim is to try to keep the members meeting for as long as possible and, as such, restricting the visitors to the building would also help to substantially cut the risk to elected members.

“Closing the building to the public would also mean the possibility of a reduced police presence and less pressure on our security staff.

“As you know, we can’t stop this virus and sooner or later the parliament will be unable to physically meet, but at the moment we should be pro-active in trying to minimise the spread amongst all building users.”