Matt Hancock Signals Potential Climbdown To Tory Covid Rebels Over Restriction Decisions
Matt Hancock has signalled a potential climbdown to Tory rebels who want MPs to be given a vote on the imposition of new coronavirus restrictions.
The health secretary said ministers were “looking at further ways” of ensuring the Commons can be “properly involved” in decisions on restrictions.
Dozens of Tory MPs, led by powerful chair of the backbench 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady, are prepared to rebel in a vote on Wednesday to ensure new restrictions are subject to Commons votes before being introduced.
They have argued that the government is ruling “by decree” through emergency powers enshrined in the Coronavirus Act.
And some questioned whether the government was “overreacting” to the virus and what they see as overly pessimistic scientific advice, with Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne questioning whether Boris Johnson “hasn’t been abducted by Dr Strangelove and reprogrammed by the Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) over to the dark side.”
On Monday, Hancock signalled the government was ready to make fresh concessions but stressed that it still needs to be able to impose new regulations “at pace”.
But he was warned that anything less than an MPs’ veto would not be enough to stave off a rebellion.
"The aim is to provide the House with the opportunity to scrutinise in advance"
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he's "looking at further ways to ensure the House can be properly involved" as some Tory MPs seek to have a say on changes to lockdown ruleshttps://t.co/HuWthT0BGlpic.twitter.com/DKzt8txelm— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 28, 2020
Asked by veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh to ensure parliament is “fully involved” in the imposition of more national restrictions, Hancock replied: “I strongly agree with the need for us in this House to have the appropriate levels of scrutiny.”
He went on: “We are looking at further ways to ensure the House can be properly involved in the process in advance where possible and I...
