
At such a crucial time in the country's history, you'd be forgiven for thinking MPs might decide to curtail their usual summer break.
Apparently not. As the government spends weeks trying to decide who should fill Britain's current leadership void and the Brexit deadline looms ever closer, parliament on Monday voted 223 to 25 to take summer recess from 25 July to 3 September.
This means that as of 25 July, parliament will spend six of the 15 weeks left before 31 October not in session.
Labour seems to have told its MPs to abstain from the vote, as the party plans to push through a vote of no confidence in the new leader as soon as they take office on 24 July.
If this fails, either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt will likely spend six weeks in Number 10 without having to answer to parliament.
According to the Huffington Post, Independent MP Sarah Wollaston vowed to object to the vote on Monday night.
In an attempt to ensure the new prime minister will be forced to face proper scrutiny before the six-week break ensues, Ms Wollaston has reportedly written a letter to Downing Street asserting they should sit before the liaison committee of select committee chairs ahead of the break. She wrote on Twitter:
She wasn't the only one who felt understandably annoyed.
Dear all MPs, this is what your voting for Summer Recess looks like to the entire UK. **** you very much.… https://t.co/KC2QV8gCAB— HappyToast ★ (@HappyToast ★) 1561447460
@ali__samson This week is probably the week the EU calls it a day. The leadership race has shown up the utter inco… https://t.co/wybEQjbYv5— Beware False Prophets (@Beware False Prophets) 1561442386
The greatest peacetime constitutional crisis and Parl votes to give itself 5 weeks off. Summer recess dates approv… https://t.co/MSaBLMkJ8T— Fionna O'Leary, 🕯🇪🇺 (@Fionna O'Leary, 🕯🇪🇺) 1561404446
@TheAndyMaturin “Don’t waste this extension”........— Real Ale Fan (@Real Ale Fan) 1561413552
As ever, people had opposing theories.
@TheAndyMaturin Its leavers letting the clock roll down— Dr Mark D'Arcy (@Dr Mark D'Arcy) 1561451552