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Covid: MPs to vote on new virus restrictions framework Covid: Northern leaders to raise lockdown concerns with No 10
(about 1 hour later)
MPs are to be given a vote on a proposed new framework for coronavirus restrictions in England, Conservative chief whip Mark Spencer has said. Political leaders from the North of England are to set out their concerns directly to No 10 officials over the prospect of further Covid restrictions.
The approach, which will see three tiers of curbs based on infection rates in different areas, is set to be announced by ministers next week. Metro mayors and council chiefs from Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds are to hold talks with one of Boris Johnson's top advisers later.
No 10 recently promised Parliament a say on new national restrictions to stave off a rebellion by Tory MPs. And a group of North-East council chiefs are set to oppose any plans to close pubs or other hospitality venues.
Mr Spencer suggested the tiered system was "being worked on at the moment". It comes amid reports that further curbs could be announced next week.
He told BBC Radio Nottingham that ministers and scientific advisers were striving to come up with a "very clear and easily understood system…so we all know what the aim is". The government is poised to introduce a new three-tiered framework of restrictions for England, although ministers have indicated it would be subject to the approved of Parliament.
The government is under pressure to simplify the patchwork of different restrictions in force across much of the North of England amid concerns from MPs and local leaders that they are confusing, inflexible and in some instances, disproportionate. The government is under pressure to simplify the patchwork of different restrictions in force across much of the North amid concerns they are confusing, inflexible and in some instances, disproportionate to case levels.
Labour's shadow business minister Lucy Powell, who represents a seat in Manchester, said there was "frustration and fury in the North about the way we are being treated by this government". Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and his Liverpool counterpart Steve Rotheram, who will meet chief Downing Street adviser Sir Eddie Lister later, are among those to complain of being excluded from discussions.
"They seem to be sitting in their offices in Whitehall striking a red pen through large swathes of our economy," she told BBC Breakfast. 'Shocked'
Mayoral meetings Mr Anderson said ministers must be open about why hospitality businesses in the worst-affected areas, which are already subject to the 10pm early closing time, could reportedly be forced to close their doors entirely.
One of Boris Johnson's chief aides, Sir Edward Lister, was due to hold talks later with local leaders from Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds amid criticism they have not been properly consulted. "I think the lack of communication with us has been disappointing on what evidence they are using around targeting the hospitality sector more, if indeed that is the case," he told BBC News.
Liverpool's mayor Joe Anderson said he was "disappointed" by ministers' lack of engagement so far and he was hoping for greater clarity over why further curbs were needed, particularly in the hospitality trade. "We are absolutely shocked we have a situation in Liverpool where we are being asked to take on extra measures when we know they haven't worked in Newcastle and Manchester."
"We are absolutely shocked we have a situation in Liverpool where we are being asked to take on extra measures when we know they haven't worked in Newcastle and Manchester," he told BBC News. And the leaders of Northumberland, Newcastle, South and North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham councils are set to oppose any further restrictions.
Martin Gannon, the leader of Gateshead Council, told Press Association that they would tell government officials that they need "more time, clearer messaging and greater support from government".
"Despite three sets of regulations in 10 days and the ensuing mixed massaging, there is evidence that, excluding higher education students (which is a national problem), new cases are beginning to plateau," he said.
But a Downing Street spokesperson said it had "worked closely with local leaders and work will continue".
The UK government is reportedly considering tighter restrictions on pub, restaurants and other hospitality venues in areas where infection rates are rising the fastest.
During a briefing on Thursday led by England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, 150 MPs from Northern constituencies were shown research from Public Health England suggesting bars, pubs and restaurants accounted for 41% of cases in which two or more under-30s visited the same venue in the week before testing positive.
They were reportedly told that the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care in the north of England would ultimately surpass the April peak if infections continued to increase at the current rate,
'Clear system'
Conservative Chief Whip Mark Spencer told BBC Radio Nottingham that ministers and scientific advisers were striving to come up with a "very clear and easily understood system".
Ministers had been expected to announce the new system of tiered restrictions this week but there were reports this has been delayed due to disagreements within cabinet.Ministers had been expected to announce the new system of tiered restrictions this week but there were reports this has been delayed due to disagreements within cabinet.
According to a memo seen by the BBC last week, restrictions would be rationalised into three tiers, depending on the level of infection in a particular area.According to a memo seen by the BBC last week, restrictions would be rationalised into three tiers, depending on the level of infection in a particular area.
Two weeks ago, Tory MPs unhappy with lack of Parliamentary scrutiny over local lockdowns forced the government to agree to give them a vote before any new nationwide curbs come into force.Two weeks ago, Tory MPs unhappy with lack of Parliamentary scrutiny over local lockdowns forced the government to agree to give them a vote before any new nationwide curbs come into force.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the "convention" would apply to significant announcements applying to the whole of the UK and England although the threshold for what would trigger a vote in Parliament is still not clear. Mr Spencer, who is in charge of maintaining discipline on the Conservative benches, said the government would honour its promise to its MPs, with a vote expected next week.
Mr Spencer, who is in charge of maintaining discipline on the Conservative benches, told BBC Radio Nottingham that the government would honour its promise to its MPs.
He said he hoped the vote would take place next week and the new system would kick in immediately if it was approved by MPs."
Tighter restrictions
Asked about the reported delay in officially announcing the plan, which was briefed to selected newspapers on Wednesday, he said it was "important to get this right rather than fast as it would be very easy to announce something that isn't going to work".Asked about the reported delay in officially announcing the plan, which was briefed to selected newspapers on Wednesday, he said it was "important to get this right rather than fast as it would be very easy to announce something that isn't going to work".
The new system, he suggested, would be similar to the current approach used by government based on infection rates but with greater flexibility built in.The new system, he suggested, would be similar to the current approach used by government based on infection rates but with greater flexibility built in.
"As we see the disease increase we will obviously go up those tiers but if we can all observe the social distancing and make sure we keep away from each other the disease will hopefully start to go down in number and then we can ease off that again.""As we see the disease increase we will obviously go up those tiers but if we can all observe the social distancing and make sure we keep away from each other the disease will hopefully start to go down in number and then we can ease off that again."
The UK government is reportedly considering tighter restrictions on pub, restaurants and other hospitality venues in the worst affected areas.
During a briefing on Thursday led by England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty, 150 MPs from Northern constituencies were shown research from Public Health England suggesting bars, pubs and restaurants accounted for 41% of cases in which two or more under-30s had visited the same venue in the week before testing positive.
They were reportedly told that the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care in the north of England would ultimately surpass the April peak if infections continued to increase at the current rate,