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MPs approved of England’s new tiered system of coronavirus restrictions, although a sizeable number of Conservatives appear to have rebelled against the measures.
The system was approved by 291 votes to 78, a majority of 213.
A total of 55 Conservative MPs voted against the government, including the two tellers on the “No” side. They were joined by 15 Labor MPs, eight DUP MPs and two independent MPs.
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Another 16 Conservatives abstained, including former Prime Minister Theresa May and former Minister Andrea Leadsom.
Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig said he had been told by MPs in the chamber that the prime minister was “standing at the door of the ‘yes’ lobby” and “begging” Tory MPs to come from the lobby of the “no” and vote. with the government.
Labor’s decision to abstain meant Boris Johnson was never in danger of losing.
Sir Keir Starmer said that while his party has “serious misgivings” about the restrictions, it would not be in the national interest to reject them when the virus still poses a “serious risk”.
But the size of the conservative rebellion, larger than the vote to approve the second national shutdown last month, shows that the prime minister has a job on his hands to maintain support for regional measures.
Now that MPs have approved the tiered system, the restrictions will go into effect when England’s second lockdown ends tomorrow (Wednesday).
“We welcome tonight’s vote that supports our Winter Plan, ends national restrictions and returns England to a tiered system,” said a government spokesman.
“This will help safeguard the progress made over the last month and keep the virus under control.
“We will continue to work with parliamentarians who have expressed concern in recent days.”
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Conservative opposition has been fueled by the fact that 99% of England’s population will fall into the two most difficult tiers, which are stricter than the previous tiers in effect prior to closing.
Approximately 32 million people, covering 57.3% of England, will enter Level 2.
But 23.3 million people, 41.5% of the population, will be placed in Level 3, the highest level of restrictions.
Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been designated for Tier 1.
In Level 3 areas, hospitality venues will be closed in the run-up to Christmas unless they can provide take-out or delivery services, and households will be prohibited from mixing indoors.
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Many parliamentarians have questioned the basis of the level decisions and expressed their fears about the economic impact.
Conservative rebel leader Mark Harper said “we are very sorry” that so many MPs “felt compelled to vote against” the measures.
“The House of Commons has spoken and we hope the government will take into account the comments we have been making on the need for better data and models, regional cost benefit analysis and on relying on parliamentarians with the information they need to make such important decisions on behalf of their constituents, “he said.
“We must find a way to break the transmission of the disease, regain public support and trust, end this devastating cycle of repeated restrictions, and begin living sustainably until an effective and safe vaccine is successfully implemented among the population”.
Addressing the Commons earlier, the prime minister told MPs that there was a “compelling case” for the tiered system.
He acknowledged “people’s feelings of unfairness” about the tiers they have been placed at, while hinting that the government might consider smaller areas when deciding tiered allocations in the future.
Johnson also promised that pubs that don’t serve food would receive a one-time payment of £ 1,000 in December.
However, the British Beer and Pub Association has said that the money alone “was not enough to prevent thousands of pub closures.”
And several of his own deputies lined up to criticize the tiered system before the vote.
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Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Backing Conservatives Committee, said: “In the absence of that serious and compelling case, I have no choice but to oppose these measures.”
Former Brexit secretary David Davis told MPs that a “policy of maximum protection for minimal harm” was required and that “this policy is not.”
Another former minister, Andrea Leadsom, said the restrictions “will inflict deliberate harm” on her constituency.
