MPs to vote on second lockdown as Boris Johnson faces Tory rebellion
Boris Johnson could face a Tory rebellion today as MPs vote on England’s second lockdown, which will start after midnight tonight if approved.
The month-long rules will see non-essential shops, hospitality venues and sports centres close, while people will be banned from seeing anyone outside their household across all settings, unless they are in a support bubble.
Several Tory MPs have already criticised the restrictions. Former chief whip Mark Harper, who condemned the handling of NHS Test and Trace, is expected to vote against the lockdown, while MP Peter Bone tweeted today to confirm he would.
He went on: ‘The government’s case is based on dubious modelling. It seems to me there are lies, damn lies and Covid statistics!’
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Chris Green, Tory MP for Bolton West, also stated on Facebook that he thought another lockdown would be ‘ineffective and worse than the disease itself’.
He said: ‘I will be voting against the second lockdown. I know this goes against the wishes of the government and the Labour Party. I am doing this because of the experience my constituents have had demonstrates that this approach to dealing with Covid is ineffective and worse than the disease itself.’
Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, said lockdowns were ‘destructive, divisive, and don’t work’ and only delayed the inevitable ‘re-emergence of the virus’.
He said in Parliament this week: ‘Have we over-reacted? Yes, I think we have. A draconian, onerous and invasive set of rules and regulations now govern our very existence.’
The second lockdown still looks likely to be approved, due to Labour leader Keir Starmer’s backing. Labour has long called for a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown and criticised the government for not acting fast enough.
On Tuesday, the UK recorded its highest death toll in six months, after 397 people died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus. A further 20,018 cases of the virus were also confirmed.
Data from the the Office for National Statistics, which records when Covid-19 has been mentioned on a death certificate, suggests the national death toll now stands just under 63,000.
If approved by MPs, the lockdown restrictions will last until at least December 2, but could be extended if the number of coronavirus cases remains high, ministers have warned.
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