Extending face mask rules is ‘mad’, senior Tory warns PM

BORIS JOHNSON has been told it would be “mad” to extend face mask rules beyond Jan 26, as Tory MPS warned that the move could prompt a “three-figure rebellion”.

The Prime Minister is widely expected to scrap regulations on Covid passports and guidance to work from home in England next Wednesday, when Plan B restrictions are up for review. It is possible that an announcement on these measures could come as soon as this week.

However, the Government is understood to be considering retaining some rules on face masks beyond the end of this month.

The measure would require a Commons vote, as the statutory instrument used to introduce the current rules – which oblige people to wear masks in most public indoor settings, including shops, theatres, event venues and on public transport – expires on Jan 26.

The proposal led to a fierce backlash last night, as a series of Conservative MPS urged Mr Johnson to rule out the idea.

Red Wall Tory Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, called on the Prime Minister to switch from legal rules to voluntary guidance, saying: “I’m of the mind, as a Conservative, that people can make their own minds up if they want to wear a face mask.”

He said he would happily continue to put on a face covering voluntarily while using the London Tube “if hundreds of people are crammed in”, adding the move would be “sensible”.

However, Mr Anderson questioned why the rules should apply to less busy transport settings. “If one person is in a [train] carriage, it seems ridiculous they have to wear a face mask. If one person is on a bus, why should they wear a face mask?” he said.

The MP, who rebelled on the measure last month, confirmed he would vote against an extension if it were brought to the Commons.

Bob Blackman MP, who sits on the 1922 Committee executive, also called on Mr Johnson to downgrade the rules on masks to guidance.

“I don’t see any point in having rules that everyone is ignoring,” he said, noting that during a supermarket visit in his constituency last Friday, half of shoppers and none of the staff were wearing face coverings.

One senior Conservative MP warned that the Government would “be mad” to pursue the idea, predicting it would provoke a rebellion of more than 100 backbenchers. They added: “The last thing he [Mr Johnson] needs is another three-figure rebellion.”

Government sources insisted last night that it was too early in the lead-up to the review next Wednesday for ministers to have made final decisions on retaining any aspects of Plan B.

‘I’m of the mind, as a Tory, that people can make their own minds up if they want to wear a face mask’