PM MAKES PEACE OFFERING TO HALT REBEL REVOLT
As tensions rise before crunch vote on coronavirus rule changes...
BORIS Johnson will throw a £ 40 million lifeline to pubs hit hardest by new coronavirus restrictions. The Prime Minister is pumping the cash into venues struggling to stay afloat over Christmas. Mr Johnson will set out details in the Commons today where he faces a major Tory rebellion in a crunch vote on Covid- 19 rule changes. Tensions are running high over the impact the new tier system will have on the economy.
But the PM insisted the regional measures he wants to replace lockdown will strike the “right
balance” to save lives while supporting the economy. Mr Johnson made his offer to the hospitality industry in a bid to win over the Tory rebels ahead of today’s vote.
But party whips fear it is on a knife edge after Labour threatened to abstain.
Mr Johnson warned the country could not “afford” to let coronavirus get out of control again.
During a visit to North Wales he said: “We can’t afford to take our foot off the throat of the beast, to take our foot off the gas, we can’t afford to let it out of control again.
“The tiering system is tough, but it’s designed to be tough and to keep it under control. I know that lots of people think that they are in the wrong tier and I understand people’s frustration.”
Hospitality will continue to suffer most under the new tiers. Pubs in Tier 2 will be able to open only if they serve alcohol as part of a meal. The rescue fund will allow councils to give grants to venues hit by the rule. Government insiders said they “can’t pretend it will cover everything” but hope it will go a long way to helping pubs over Christmas, usually be their busiest trading period.
Mr Johnson said the “best thing” for the hospitality sector and the wider economy is to keep the virus under control and roll out the vaccine.
Rebel Tory MPs were warned yesterday that scrapping coronavirus restrictions would lead to an “intolerable” loss of life.
A Government document claimed continuing curbs on hospitality businesses and household mixing were needed to stop the NHS being overwhelmed. However, up to 100 Tory MPs could vote against the regional restrictions due to come into force just after midnight tonight.
The Government released an official analysis of the expected health, economic and social impact of the tiered restrictions. But
Tories expressed disappointment the 46- page document failed to estimate the potential damage of curbs on businesses to the economy. The document warned: “The Government’s view is that the severe loss of life and other health impacts of allowing the NHS to be overwhelmed would be intolerable for our society.”
It said letting virus cases multiply would lead to “a situation where the NHS would become overwhelmed and there would be insufficient capacity for those patients most critically in need of it.
It added: “The corresponding cost to society of higher death rates is not one that any Government or country would willingly tolerate.”
Tory MPs were angry that the document was released last night, leaving little time for scrutiny.
Former minister Mel Stride said: “It’s frustrating that there is little
here that sets out how the different tiers might impact on the specific sectors and regions across the country.
“Those looking for additional economic analysis of the new tiered system will struggle to find it in this document.”
Former Tory chief whip Mark Harper, who chairs the Covid Recovery Group of backbenchers, said: “This information is what ministers should have been insisting on before they made their decisions.”
With many rebels appearing to dig in last night, the Prime Minister could be forced to rely on Labour support to get parliamentary backing for the tier proposals.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Coronavirus remains a serious threat to the public’s health and that’s why Labour accepts the need for continued restrictions. We will always act in the national interest so we will not vote against these restrictions in Parliament tomorrow.
“However, I remain deeply concerned that Boris Johnson’s Government has failed to use this latest lockdown to put a credible health and economic plan in place.”
A No 10 spokesman said: “Keir Starmer is playing politics in the middle of a global pandemic instead of working with the Government to find a way through this difficult time for the British people.
“We will continue to engage, listen and work with MPs who have concerns.”