MPs from across the House of Commons have expressed their anger at the lack of action in parliament after weeks in which the Brexit deadlock has left the Commons with almost nothing to do.

There has not been a significant vote in the Commons since 10 April and on several occasions MPs have been sent home hours earlier than scheduled because there was nothing for them to debate.

Attempts to secure agreement for a Brexit deal have monopolised ministers' attention, meaning other legislation has all but dried up.

On Monday, the Commons sat for just three and a half hours, beginning at 2.30pm and rising shortly after 6pm, rather than the usual 10pm.

The lull began after Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected for a third time at the end of March and the government entered into talks with Labour in a bid to break the deadlock.

With parliament still gridlocked, MPs said they were "very frustrated" at having to "kill time" in Westminster when they could be working in their constituencies. Some predicted that the situation would not improve until there is a new government with a Commons majority.

Former Conservative Party vice chairman Ben Bradley told The Independent: “The reason there aren’t more votes is presumably that the government isn’t confident it can win them."

The Mansfield MP said he was spending more time on his role on the education select committee and doing constituency events, saying: “I’m just trying to do something useful … it’s nice having the flexibility and spending more time in the constituency but equally because nobody knows what’s going on, you get dragged down here for no reason.

“It’s a total waste of my time travelling and it’s a waste of the cost of the train tickets. Nobody knows what is going on. I get thousands of requests to come to village fetes and local community events and I could be going and doing more of them."

Suggesting that nothing would change until Ms May resigns, he added: "People are very frustrated. It’s just the waiting. Everybody knows what needs to happen and it’s not happening and we haven’t got the tools to make it happen – only the cabinet and the 1922 Committee can do that. We’re all just treading water."

Mr Bradley said the lack of Commons action had allowed time for prospective Conservative leadership candidates to step up their bids to succeed Theresa May.

He said: “There’s a lot of plotting going on – that fills a lot of time. A lot of people are off helping the leadership campaigns or having lots of coffees with people who would like to be the new leader. But I think most people are trying to spend as little time here as possible.”

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(AP Photo/ Kirsty Wigglesworth) Kirsty Wigglesworth AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit protester holds a sign next to a statue of Winston Churchill at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square in Westminster, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday March 29, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Jonathan Brady PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Pro-Brexit protesters hold signs and wave flags at the March to Leave demonstration in London, Britain March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville TOBY MELVILLE Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit epa07471421 Pro-Brexit protesters gather outside of the Parliament for Nigel Farage's 'March to Leave' in London, Britain, 29 March 2019. MPs rejected Prime Minister's May EU withdrawal agreement earlier in the day. EPA/NEIL HALL NEIL HALL EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter sips a can of Stella in protests outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Dedicated anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and likewise pro-Brexit campaigner Joseph Afrane go head to head near the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit marching band in Parliament Square Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Remain supporters wave EU flags from a bus in Parliament Square PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter shouts slogans outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter protests outside of the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside of the Houses of Parliament REUTERS Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A pro-Brexit flag is waved in Parliament Square AP Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit The March to Leave nears the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit protester holds a sign outside parliament EPA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters carry the coffin of democracy AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters march outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters take part in the March to Leave protest in London PA Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Brexit supporters protest outside parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter holds a sign outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A man holds satirical paintings of politicians Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit An pro-Brexit float on the March to Leave march in London Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Tommy Robinson supporter arrives at the Houses of Parliament Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A jogger gestures rudely at a Brexit supporter outside of the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Opposing protesters flock to parliament on would be date of Brexit A Brexit supporter outside the Houses of Parliament PA

Labour's Chris Bryant, who is receiving treatment for skin cancer, said uncertainty over the Commons schedule had forced MPs to missing important medical appointments.

He said: "I've been travelling back and forth to Wales for medical appointments but two women MPs have told me they've put off smear tests because they don't know what the business will be for the next day. It's the same for other types of screening – a male MP told me he'd had to miss a prostate test.

"Other people can't get home to put their kids to bed."

Describing the situation that MPs find themselves in, he said: "It's like being stuck in the middle of an ocean in the doldrums waiting for a breeze, not even bothering to mount a mutiny because if you pushed them into a boat, they'd just sit there for another four weeks. It's a very strange parliament."

He added: "It's completely unprecedented. Half the time the government benches are empty and we're busying ourselves on our side but the one thing we can't do is introduce legislation or pass spending plans...It's a phantom government."

Brexit Party candidate Mike Greene claims that the EU is responsible for child poverty

Liberal Democrat MP Sir Ed Davey said the inaction in parliament was giving him more time to focus on constituency work and campaigns, but criticised the government for an "appalling" lack of activity.

He said: "If you're a fastidious MP there's so much you can do regardless of what the government is doing, mostly in the constituency. I have a lot of advice and casework so when parliament isn't busy. If anyone is twiddling their thumbs, they're not doing the job properly. Parliament doesn't have to be sitting and active for MPs to be involved in important politics things.

"That said, this government is the most incompetent, inefficient, ineffective government I have ever known. Whether it is climate change or school budget cuts or rising crime, the government doesn't really seem as engaged as it could be. The lack of decision-making and the lack of urgency is appalling."

He added: "The government is incapable of using its power to address the issues of the country...It's totally unprecedented. I don't think there's been a time like this."

Independent MP Frank Field, who chairs the Commons work and pension committee, said he had urged Ms May to prioritise bills from backbenchers and select committees in order to give MPs something to debate.

He said: "Aside from the occasional skirmish on Brexit, parliament has had very little to do in recent months.

“In an attempt to fill the domestic reform vacuum, I submitted a proposal to the prime minister for the government to give the necessary time and protection to bills presented by backbenchers, as well as select committees, that are approved by the cabinet’s legislative committee. Had this approach been picked up, we could have had a major domestic reform programme without waiting for Brexit.”

The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Show all 12 1 /12 The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day March 29 2019 - The original date for Britain's departure from the EU, what do the newspapers have to say about it? The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Express The Daily Express focuses on the fact that today was the original day for Britain's departure from the EU The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mail The Daily Mail warns MPs that they have "one last chance" to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Independent The Independent Daily Edition reports that the Prime Minister is gambling as she holds a vote today on the withdrawal agreement The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Sun The Sun reports that the Prime Minister last night sought to convince DUP leader Arlene Foster to back her deal The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Guardian The Guardian reports that some ministers want the Prime Minister to step down now, while Michael Gove becomes the favourite at the bookies to replace her The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The i The i reports that Boris Johnson is preparing his leadership bid for when the Prime Minister resigns The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Times The Times reports that Brexit may be delayed for a further year The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister is making a "desperate final plea" to pass her Brexit deal through the house of commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Financial Times The Financial Times reports on the Brexit Betrayal march that will reach London today after setting off from Sunderland with the intention of reaching London on Brexit day The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror reports on the Prime Minister's difficulty passing her deal through the commons The front pages on what would have been Brexit Day Daily Star The Daily Star calls on its readers to shut up about Brexit

Experts said the lack of a legislative programme was usually a sign of a government coming towards the end of its term – and of an imminent general election.

Alice Lilly, a senior researcher at the Institute for Government, said: “The government is bringing forward legislation but it’s very limited – bills on issues such as circus animals or a lease for Kew Gardens.

“We’re still in the first session of a new parliament so you’d expect the government to be bringing forward very wide-ranging or significant bills, but beyond Brexit we’re absolutely not seeing that at the moment."

She added: “It looks like a government in the final session of a parliament, where essentially they are doing little bits and pieces waiting for an election. It’s not what you would be expecting in the first session…Essentially they are filling time.”

The lack of attention given to issues beyond Brexit has also been noticed by the public.

A poll for The Independent found that almost three-quarters of voters believe the government has focused too much on Brexit at the expense of other matters.