By Press Association 2020-
Boris Johnson dismissed a major Tory backbench rebellion over the 10pm hospitality curfew, amid a growing backlash against Government coronavirus restrictions.
MPs approved the Government’s new three tier alert system for England without the need for a formal vote.
But a group of backbench Conservatives forced a division to register their disapproval over the curfew affecting pubs and restaurants in England.
The vote was symbolic as the new alert system supersedes the previous regulations, and includes the 10pm curfew as a minimum measure.
Yet this did not stop 42 Tory MPs rebelling to retrospectively oppose the curfew, which was approved by 299 votes to 82 – majority 217..
A total of 23 Labour MPs also opposed the measure, including former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier conceded the curfew was a “matter of policy choice” in order to keep schools and workplaces open, rather than something driven by the science.
He claimed there is “direct and approximate evidence” for the positive impact of the limits on pubs and restaurants, citing a fall in alcohol-related A&E admissions late at night.
But Mr Hancock insisted the Government’s desire to protect education and work “as much as is possible” meant they had to take measures against socialising to try to slow the spread of Covid-19 transmission.
We’re trying to protect, as much as is possible, education and protect, as much as is possible, work, essentially that leaves socialising as the other part of life, of activity where people transmit the virus
MPs were also warned they should have “no confidence” of ever reaching herd immunity against the virus, even if everyone caught it.
Appearing in the Commons to move regulations to implement England’s new three tiers of restrictions, Mr Hancock was challenged by Tory MP Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) on whether the scientific evidence on curfews shows the positives outweigh the negatives.
Mr Hancock said there has been a decrease in A&E admissions linked to alcohol, before he argued about the need to reduce the amount of social contact to control the virus.