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MPs break up for Easter - so how much more holiday do they get than you?

MPs jet off for a two-week Easter holiday away from Parliament today, just five and a bit weeks after they came back from a February half term jolly.

In fact, politicians get to enjoy half term breaks and long school holidays throughout the year - and they get an extra WEEK off for King Charles's Coronation this year.

It means that in total MPs won't be sitting in parliament for around a whopping 17 weeks over this year's session.

Of course, many MPs do constituency work during recess but they're also able to go on long holidays if they want.

And, if their salary of £84,000 isn't enough for them, they could take on a second job - which many do.

So how much time off do they get?

MPs are away from parliament for a full six-week holiday like schools (

Image:

PA)

When are MPs away from Parliament?

The 2022-23 session began with the State Opening on 10 May 2022.

Parliament sat until May 26 before taking its first break (known as a parliamentary recess) until June 6.

MPs then broke up for summer on July 21 and returned on September 5 - after about a six-week break.

This was followed by party conferences from September 23 to October 11, then a break from November 9 to 14.

MPs holidayed for Christmas and New Year from December 20 to January 9.

They were then off again just a month later from February 9 to 20.

Easter begins today on March 30 and MPs don't return until April 17.

MPs then get a long weekend from April 27 to May 2 for the May bank holiday, which is immediately followed by almost a week off from May 3 to 9 for the King's Coronation.

Just two weeks later they'll be off again from May 25 to June 5.

MPs will break up for summer on July 20.

Why do they get so much time off?

Parliamentary sessions begin in either May or June. They normally last for 12 months and MPs get a number of "recesses", as laid out above, throughout the year.

Recesses aren't technically the same as holidays. They are supposed to be an opportunity for MPs to dedicate time to their constituency away from Westminster.

MPs might use recesses to respond to letters and run advice surgeries for constituents, or they might take part in local events, speeches or visits.

But MPs are not obliged to do this - and given the recesses pretty much line up with school holidays, many enjoy time off with their kids.

Is it fair?

Well, MPs get an £84,000-a-year salary, plus they can take up a second job if they want to.

Many MPs have been criticised for focusing on raking in extra cash in their spare time or during recesses instead of spending time with their constituents.

When someone gets elected to Parliament, in legal terms they become an "office holder" - which differs from being self-employed or an employee.

It means MPs get their salary once they have pledged their oath of allegiance to the Queen or King, regardless of how much they contribute to parliamentary matters.

But the catch is - they're not actually entitled to any official holidays.

It also previously meant MPs did not get any formal maternity leave.

In 2021, MPs voted to give ministers formal paid maternity leave for the first time. However, the move drew some criticism as it failed to reference paternity leave, nor did it extend similar benefits to backbenchers, who have to take "informal" maternity leave.

MPs who have had a baby often choose to take a few weeks off, but might still continue with their constituency work even if they don't come to the Commons.

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