‘Endless cycle of lockdowns and tier systems are not working’
MP SET TO VOTE AGAINST PLAN FOR REGIONAL RESTRICTIONS
NORTH East MP Emma LewellBuck is set to reject the Government’s new three-tier regional lockdown when a House of Commons vote is held on Tuesday.
She is one of a number of Labour and Conservative MPS who are unhappy about the plan – which was announced on Thursday, but must be approved by the House of Commons before it can go ahead.
Up to 70 Conservative MPS could refuse to back the Government, according to reports. That would mean Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs the support of Labour politicians such as Ms Lewell-buck, MP for South Shields, in order to win the vote.
She said: “As it stands now I am likely to vote against it. I will look at all the information. These are difficult decisions and they shouldn’t be made on the flip of the coin, but as it stands now I am very much planning to vote against it.
“What we are seeing now is this endless cycle of lockdowns and tier systems, and it’s very clear they are not working.
“What we should be doing is protecting the vulnerable and leaning to live with the virus as best we can – doing some social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing. Shutting down the economy, when all the businesses I have been to are Covid-secure anyway, just seems cruel.
“There are issues to weigh up such as the mental health impact on people being locked up again, people not getting the healthcare they need for other issues – it’s all starting to look very counter-productive.”
She called on Labour leader Keir Starmer to allow his MPS a free vote. That would mean they are not instructed by the party leadership to vote a certain way.
The new lockdown system, announced on Thursday, put the
North East in Tier 3. That means residents are barred from meeting anyone they do not live with in any indoor setting, and all hospitality settings, such as bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants must close, although they can continue to offer takeaway services.
But although the rules are due to come into force on December 2, they must first be approved by MPS, with a vote due to take place on Tuesday.
There are reports that up to 70 Conservative MPS could refuse to back the proposals. This would mean that the Government needs support from Labour MPS in order to win the vote. Labour leader Keir Starmer has not yet decided whether to tell his MPS to support the regional lockdown.
Conservative former Cabinet Minister Damian Green predicted that “a lot” of Tory MPS would rebel on Tuesday.
He told Times Radio: “A lot, I think is the only sensible thing I can say because we’ve obviously been talking about Kent, but this applies in other counties as well. I know colleagues in Dorset are very annoyed and our colleagues in Lincolnshire are very annoyed and quite a lot in other areas where the incidence is very low.”