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The government “whenever possible” will offer MPs a vote on the new coronavirus lockdown restrictions before they come into effect, as ministers responded to the threat of a conservative rebellion.
Following talks between the government and a group of Conservative MPs who want more voice in parliament on COVID-19 measures, Ministry of Health Matt hancock announced the award to the House of Commons.
“I can confirm to the House that for meaningful national measures with effect throughout England, or the whole of the UK, we will consult parliament; where possible we will vote before such regulations come into force,” he said.
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Last week, the government announced new restrictions, including a 10 p.m. curfew in pubs, bars and restaurants.
However, Hancock cautioned that “responding to the virus means that the government must act quickly when necessary and we cannot delay the urgent regulations that are needed to control the virus and save lives.”
Sir Graham Brady, one of the leaders of the Conservative rebels, thanked Hancock for the “constructive talks” between the government and his group before his statement before Parliament on Wednesday.
“We are grateful that he and other members of the government have understood the importance of proper scrutiny in this place and the benefits it can bring to better government as well,” he added.
Earlier, Sir Graham had seen his attempt to alter the emergency coronavirus legislation, introduced at the start of the pandemic in March, overturned by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
In his statement to MPs, Sir Lindsay said he had “decided not to select any of the amendments” to Wednesday’s motion on the renewal of powers in the Coronavirus Act.
He revealed that he had received a notice that “any amendment to the motion before the House runs the risk of generating uncertainty about the decision that the House has taken.”
Sir Graham Brady had been leading the effort by MPs to gain a greater voice on COVID-19 rules
“This then runs the risk that decisions that are legitimately the responsibility of parliament will ultimately be determined by the courts,” added Sir Lindsay.
“Lack of clarity on such important issues runs the risk of undermining the rule of law.”
However, the president appeared to urge the government to reach a compromise with the large number of parliamentarians who want to have more voice on the COVID-19 restrictions.
He told ministers that the way they had exercised their powers to introduce anti-coronavirus measures was “totally unsatisfactory” as he criticized them for publishing the laws only “hours before they go into effect.”
“Some explanations of why important measures have gone into effect before they can come before this House have not been convincing and show complete disregard for the House,” said Sir Lindsay.
“The government must do more to prepare measures more quickly so that this House can debate and decide on the most significant measures as soon as possible.”
The president urged the government to “remedy a situation that I consider completely unsatisfactory,” adding: “I now hope that the government rebuilds confidence in this House and does not treat it with the contempt it has shown.”
Sir Graham, chairman of the influential 1922 Conservative Backbenchers Committee, had tabled an amendment, which will now not be selected, through which a group of multi-party MPs hoped to gain a greater voice on coronavirus restrictions.
Sir Lindsay’s statement came ahead of Wednesday’s Prime Minister Questions session, during which Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer took aim at Boris Johnson not remembering your own rules about coronavirus.
The prime minister was forced to apologize on Tuesday for being confused with the COVID-19 restrictions in northeast England.
“One of the main problems, as we have seen in the last 24 hours, is the general confusion about local restrictions and I do not mean only the prime minister who does not know his own rules, who has sat opposite the prime minister in the PMQ every day. week that was no surprise to me, “said Sir Keir.
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Citing a Conservative council leader’s concerns about “complex” restrictions, Sir Keir added: “If the prime minister does not understand the rules and the leaders of his own council complain about mixed messages, how does the prime minister expect the rest? of country to understand and follow the rules? “
Johnson replied: “Actually, I think the people of this country understand and overwhelmingly follow the rules, and I can say that it is despite the efforts (of the Labor leader) to continually try to attack from the sidelines, to undermine what that we’re trying to do, and he mentions the restrictions in the northeast, and I cleared that up as quickly as I could. “
Sir Keir also asked the Prime Minister why only one area of England, Luton in Bedfordshire, had come out and stayed out of local blockade restrictions.
“I think the reason for Luton’s success is that the local population came together to suppress the virus, follow the lead, and that’s the way forward for the entire country,” Johnson replied.
“That is what we did before in March and April, and I have no doubt that that is what we are going to do again.”
