York's Tory MP Julian Sturdy will rebel against the Government if city is not placed into Tier 1 coronavirus restrictions

A Conservative MP for York says he will vote against the Government in any new vote on coronavirus restrictions if the city - which has the lowest rates in Yorkshire - isn't placed in Tier 1.

Julian Sturdy reluctantly backed Boris Johnson in last night's vote to impose tiered regional restrictions after a conversation with Chancellor Rishi Sunak in which he says he was given "clear commitments" that more localised tiers would be created.

The York Outer MP said he was told the news system would be in place within weeks and believed it "should allow York to move to a tier position more consistent with its lower virus rate".

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The latest data shows that the City of York has a coronavirus infection rate of 83.1 new cases per 100,000 people in the week to November 27, down from 132 seven days earlier.

This is the lowest rate in Yorkshire and the Humber, though rates have been falling across the board in the region during the national lockdown.

But like neighbouring authorities in North Yorkshire, York has come out of lockdown into Tier 2, where household mixing indoors is banned and pubs can only open if they operate as restaurants.

City leaders believe York should have gone into Tier 1, where six people can meet indoors and out and pubs can remain open but must be table service only.

Julian Sturdy says he will vote against the Government in any new vote on coronavirus restrictions if the city - which has the lowest rates in Yorkshire - isn't placed in Tier 1.Julian Sturdy says he will vote against the Government in any new vote on coronavirus restrictions if the city - which has the lowest rates in Yorkshire - isn't placed in Tier 1.
Julian Sturdy says he will vote against the Government in any new vote on coronavirus restrictions if the city - which has the lowest rates in Yorkshire - isn't placed in Tier 1.
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Mr Sturdy did not join fellow Yorkshire Conservatives Imran Ahmad Khan, Robbie Moore, Philip Davies and David Davis in rebelling against the Government in the Commons.

He said he "reluctantly decided" to vote for the new tiers system, which came into force today, on the explicit basis of clear commitments given by fellow Yorkshire MP Mr Sunak.

He said: "I have been assured that within weeks the system will be revised to create more localised tiers based on council areas, which should allow York to move to a tier position more consistent with its lower virus rate.

"I am taking them at their word on this, and if we do not get significant changes to the system to get York into Tier 1, I have put Ministers on notice that I will vote against any extension of this system."

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He added in a statement: "To be frank, the easy option would have been to vote against, in the knowledge that the measures would still go through, and then the government would not need to work to retain my support for the next stage.

"I believe by giving the Government the benefit of the doubt now, I am making the better decision for our community by ensuring I retain leverage over the Government at the next stage.

"I am very unhappy to be given a binary choice by the government tonight between this system or no restrictions, but given this stark decision, I concluded that voting in favour was the safest decision for our city.”

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