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The prime minister and government officials have been accused of trying to “terrorize” the British public about the coronavirus.
Conservative MPs expressed concern about aspects of Boris Johnson’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in a long debate in the Commons.
It comes before an imminent showdown over the powers of government to address the coronavirus pandemic.
MPs will vote Wednesday on whether to renew powers on the Coronavirus Act, with Downing Street fighting to prevent what would be a damaging rebellion on the issue.
The prime minister is under pressure to give parliament a bigger role in debating and voting on the new coronavirus restrictions.
An amendment tabled by Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the Conservative MPs Committee of 1922, has won the support of dozens of conservatives.
More than 50 conservatives have signaled that they could rebel against the government if the amendment goes to a vote, which would be enough to give Johnson a high-profile defeat if all opposition parties put their collective weight behind it.
The ministers held talks with potential rebels on Wednesday night in an attempt to prevent a riot.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Chief Whip Mark Spencer and Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg met with them to try to address their concerns.
Former Minister Steve Baker, who has endorsed Sir Graham’s amendment, described the meeting as a “cordial and constructive meeting.”
“I hope and hope that we reach a satisfactory agreement,” he said.
Mr. Hancock told MPs in the Commons previously that ministers were “looking for new ways to ensure that the House can properly participate in the process early when possible.”
The health secretary said he agreed that parliament should have the “appropriate level of scrutiny”, but this must be balanced with the need to ensure that the government can “act quickly where necessary.”
A senior government source has told Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby that Number 10 is confident that the Brady amendment will not be selected by the President for a vote.
“We have always said that we are happy to allow more time to debate and discuss these things. It is now clear that the Brady amendment is out of reach and therefore will not be voted on,” they said.
But a high-ranking conservative told Rigby: “The decision is up to the president and I’m not sure he shares that opinion. If he is clear that there is a majority in favor (which there is), he will try to allow the House to vote on that. . “
Either way, Monday’s Commons debate showed that there is palpable unhappiness among some Conservative MPs around elements of the government’s response to the coronavirus.
Sir Desmond Swayne, a former minister, asked if Johnson had been “kidnapped by Dr. Strangelove and reprogrammed by SAGE. [Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies] Into the Dark Side “, a reference to the 1964 satirical film about fears of nuclear conflict during the Cold War.
He attacked the government’s top scientific and medical advisers to warning that 200 or more people could die each day in mid-November if no action was taken to reduce the infection rate.
“It was a scary project, it was an attempt to terrorize the British people, as if they weren’t terrified enough,” Sir Desmond said, adding that the government’s response during the pandemic has been “disproportionate.”
“By decree, it has interfered in our private life and in our family life, telling us who we can meet, when we can meet them and what we should wear when we meet them,” he said.
Telford MP Lucy Allan also criticized the briefing, saying it had “undermined public confidence” by “pushing” the worst case without explaining the chances of it happening.
Ms. Allan asked, “Was it designed to instill fear in order to control the public? Is this how we want to rule?”
Simon Clarke, another former minister, said a second national shutdown would be “unsustainable” and “wrong”, warning that a “harsh and grave” price would be charged.
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Greg Clark, chairman of the Commons Science and Technology Committee, said ministers “must embark on a distinctly different course” by next spring.
“We cannot live forever in circumstances where the way we live our lives can change without warning,” he said.
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South Dorset MP Richard Drax echoed this, telling the Commons: “A major and quick rethink is needed before we do irreparable damage.”
“This disease, like any other, is here to stay, like it or not, and we must learn to live with it.”
Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope accused the government of “infiltration of covert missions” for its use of secondary legislation to expand coronavirus regulations, while Nusrat Ghani, Wealden MP, said she had “great concerns about how the government wants to advance the extension of COVID laws in the future. “
