Potential Tory rebels are warned tiered restrictions are needed to avoid third national lockdown

The Prime Minister faces a rebellion of up to 100 of his own MPs tomorrow, as he could be forced to rely on Labour to back the new coronavirus tiering system in England.

MPs will tomorrow vote on measures announced last week where 99 per cent of England will go under either Tier 2 or 3 from tomorrow.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tonight warned Conservative MPs threatening to rebel that backing the new system is key in avoiding a third national lockdown.

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While Boris Johnson said it would be wrong to “take our foot off the throat of the beast” now.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PAPrime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PA
Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PA

Labour is not expected to oppose the measures, meaning Mr Johnson should get them through Parliament.

But being forced to rely on decisions being made by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will be uncomfortable for the Prime Minister.

Sir Keir was expected to hold talks with England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, today as he decides whether to support the Government’s tier system.

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On a visit today to a facility of pharmaceutical firm Wockhardt in Wales, where it is hoped a vaccine will be produced, Mr Johnson acknowledged that “lots of people think that they are in the wrong tier” but insisted the measures set to come into force tomorrow are needed to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Impact assessments released this afternoon showed the new controls will have a “significant” impact on the economy but said that allowing the disease to run unchecked would be “much worse” for public health.

A failure to maintain strong controls would lead to the NHS being overwhelmed and result in an “intolerable” loss of life, the analysis published ahead of the crunch Commons vote said.

Asked during a Downing Street press conference tonight if Conservatives thinking of rebelling are acting irresponsibly, Mr Hancock said: “I would urge all MPs right across the House to vote for the tiered system.

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“The tiered system has a lower set of restrictions than the national lockdown in all three tiers.

“Unfortunately though, we do have to have the higher tier restrictions – and in particular Tier 3 restrictions – in place so that we can have confidence that we can keep getting this virus down, and then keep it under control right across the country.

“And that way, it is the best way to avoid a third lockdown.

“And it is the most proportionate way to take the action that we need to keep people safe, and to stop the NHS being overwhelmed.”

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Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson insisted the tiers are needed while “the scientific cavalry really are almost here”.

Conservative former chief whip Mark Harper, who chairs the Covid Recovery Group of Tory MPs who are sceptical of further restrictions, said they would “read and analyse” the data, which was released late afternoon, overnight.

But he added he was disappointed to have been “given so little time to digest information of this magnitude.”

Despite being offered another chance to vote on the restrictions early next year – meaning the measures could lapse on February 3 – numerous MPs, including Shipley’s Philip Davies, said they still have reservations.

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