36 Tories rebel over draconian lockdown laws
THIRTY-SIX Tory backbenchers defied the Prime Minister last night and voted against the extension of ‘draconian’ coronavirus laws for a further six months.
As health Secretary Matt hancock said he was unable to rule out extending the powers even beyond October – many months past the promised end of lockdown – MPs warned of a ‘slide into authoritarianism’.
Backbenchers accused ministers of seeking to impose ‘total social control’, while one said that claims the controls were necessary was the ‘alibi of tyrants’.
But thanks to the size of its majority, the Government easily managed to get the extension of Covid powers until October through the Commons.
The rebels included Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbenchers, who said: ‘The habit of coercion and control has gone on for too long.’
Mr hancock said: ‘I cannot answer whether we will be retiring it in six months. My preference would be yes but, given the last year, I think a prediction would be hasty.’
Senior Tory Mark harper, chairman of the lockdown- sceptic Covid recovery Group, said ahead of the debate he was opposed to the Act’s ‘very significant draconian powers’ being extended for a further six months.
During the debate, he criticised ‘police powers to detain potentially infectious persons, which have [been] used unlawfully on a number of occasions’.
he added: ‘That is why so many of us are worried. These are extraordinary provisions, not for normal times, and they should be expired at the earliest possible opportunity.’ Sir Charles Walker said: ‘As sure as eggs are eggs, we will be back here in six months at the end of September being asked to renew this legislation again. It is inevitable and anyone who thinks it’s not inevitable is deluding themselves.’
Former minister Sir Desmond Swayne warned the renewal of emergency coronavirus powers could lead to ‘total social control’. he said: ‘Did it ever occur to ministers that they might actually incentivise vaccinations? Carrot, not stick. Undoubtedly it didn’t, because they can’t kick the habit, they are wedded to the stick.
‘Tyranny is a habit, and the motions on the Order Paper this evening show that we have not quite kicked it.
‘The powers that touched our personal choices and came at such a huge cost remain. We were told that they were there purely temporarily to deal with the emergency. Well, by any measure the emergency is over and the hugely successful vaccination campaign is the guarantee against its return.
‘Yet on the Order Paper tonight the Government seek to retain those powers to control aspects of our lives, together with the punishment regime for those who disobey.’
Steve Baker, another former minister, urged the Government to advertise the success of the vaccine rather than spread fear via its pandemic advertising, telling MPs: ‘Stop terrifying people. Treat them like adults, ask them to comply but to comply while we get the vaccine rolled out and save lives.’
Sir Christopher Chope quoted French writer Albert Camus, saying: ‘he should reflect on the adage that the welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants.’