MPs have voted on extending Covid laws for six months

25 March 2021, 09:20 | Updated: 25 March 2021, 18:10

Boris Johnson wants MPs to extend coronavirus laws for six months.
Boris Johnson wants MPs to extend coronavirus laws for six months. Picture: PA

By Will Taylor

A six-month extension for coronavirus laws will be voted on later in the Commons amid some opposition to restrictions from Tory rebels.

MPs have been asked to approve extending restrictions as part of Boris Johnson’s route out of lockdown.

His plan sees non-essential businesses and hospitality return as limits to social contacts are gradually removed over the next three months – with all restrictions scrapped from June 21 at the earliest.

Mr Johnson said he wants the limits to be removed "once and for all" and avoid having to again plunge the country back into social distancing measures.

Opposition to the Prime Minister’s cautious roadmap out of lockdown has fermented on his own backbenches but a rebellion is not expected to derail the plan.

Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, thinks hospitality should be reopened for the Easter weekend to give it a boost following months of restrictions that hit the industry hard.

Steve Baker MP tells LBC how he would manage unlocking from Covid

"The sun is coming out, the vulnerable are getting vaccinated, but Easter is a major time for hospitality," he told LBC.

"That's a really massive cost for some of the younger and poorer people in our society, working in hospitality, and they won't be able to get their businesses and livelihoods back on track at that time.

"At the moment, it looks like the data is better than anyone's best estimates. I do certainly think the Prime Minister should be willing, in following the data, to bring the plan forwards because of the costs of the plan."

Opposition to a slow easing of restrictions has also been encouraged by data.

On Wednesday, the Government reported 5,605 cases and 98 deaths, while more than 28 million people have been given their first vaccine dose and 2.5 million have received their second.

Care minister Helen Whatley told LBC’s Nick Ferrari that Mr Johnson is clear June 21 is the earliest restrictions can be removed, and insisted: "We are being driven by the data rather than the dates."

From next week, as part of a package of new laws, people who leave the UK without a reasonable excuse could be fined up to £5,000 but outdoor protests will be explicitly allowed again.

MPs are to vote in the House of Commons later today.

It comes after mass anti-lockdown protests took place in London last weekend, with thousands of people taking to the streets to protest. Multiple arrests were made and protesters were filmed in heated clashes with police.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Luigi Mangione yelled at crowds outside court before his hearing.

Suspect in healthcare chief shooting launches into angry outburst outside court as he contests extradition to New York

Luigi Mangione is taken into court

Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief appears in court in Pennsylvania

Alex Jones

Court asked to approve The Onion’s winning bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly 'split' just weeks after announcing pregnancy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing in his trial on corruption charges

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gives evidence in court as he slams 'absurd' corruption allegations

Junior Doctors In England Hold 72-hour Walkout Over Pay

Government departments recommended a pay rise of 2.8% - but union bosses brand it 'barely above the cost of living'

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case could be halted but conviction upheld, say prosecutors

Kenneth Chesebro in court

Further charges against Trump lawyers and aide over 2020 fake electors

Massive cuts to the Met were announced today.

With a ‘blackhole’ in the Met Police budget, money isn't the only challenge to effective Met Policing

Exclusive
Suella Braverman speaks to LBC's Andrew Marr

Suella Braverman brands UK-Germany small boats deal 'useless' as she fails to say what she doesn't like about Reform UK

Exclusive
Jamal Khashoggi’s widow has called for an apology and compensation

Jamal Khashoggi’s widow calls for apology and compensation amid 'unfinished business' over his death

Director Ang Lee

Ang Lee to receive Directors Guild lifetime achievement award

Car driving past flames

Wind-driven California wildfire sees thousands ordered to evacuate

Israeli troops near the buffer zone between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights, as the military also bombed Damascus

Israel to set up 'sterile defensive zone' in Syria as it brands reports IDF tanks are approaching Damascus 'fake news'

Tom Voyce in action for England

Former England rugby star Tom Voyce feared dead after his car went into river during Storm Darragh

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

US says it will support new Syria leaders who protect women and reject terrorism