Boris Johnson extends ‘strict’ lockdown laws for six months

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NS

Oris Johnson has raised fears of a winter shutdown with plans to extend Covid’s “strict” powers for another six months, it has been revealed.

The government has confirmed plans to renew some temporary powers under the 2020 coronavirus law.

But those plans would be opposed by anti-lockdown Tory MPs, 35 of whom rebelled the last time the law was extended.

The legislation gives authorities and police the powers to organize public gatherings, close buildings, and force people to self-isolate.

It also includes the powers of the health minister to close individual events, gatherings, stores and restaurants if they pose a particular risk.

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But it also supports epidemiological safety nets such as protecting tenants from eviction and ensuring sick pay for people who self-isolate.

Conservative MP Mark Harper, of the Covid recovery group, said the law contained “the most draconian detention powers in recent British legal history”.

He told the Financial Times: “Our vaccine rollout has been a huge success. We have seen a dramatic and welcome decrease in people suffering from serious illness and death from Covid as a result.

We’re going to have to learn to live with this virus, and keeping broad powers of detention in the coronavirus law is not compatible with this.

What justification could there be for extending these measures?

Don Butler, MP for Brent, said it was “wrong” to threaten the government to extend it again.

“The Coronavirus Law is a blanket cover for the brutal and unaccountable authorities the government has wrapped itself in,” she wrote on Twitter.

“It is wrong that this government threatens to expand again. It is outdated and unfit for purpose. uklabour & Tory rebels must vote against it’s time [to] Replace it with something better, fairer and more transparent.”

Former Cabinet Secretary David Davis added: “Coronavirus law contains some of the most draconian powers ever in the UK.

“Fortunately, the pandemic crisis point has passed. So now is the time to undo the broad powers that were unwisely handed over to the state.”

A government spokesperson said: “We will allow temporary expirations in the Coronavirus Act where possible, as we have done in previous review points.

“However, it would be irresponsible to allow all temporary provisions to expire.

“Doing so would remove the government’s ability to protect tenants from eviction, give sick pay to those who self-isolate from day one, and direct schools to reopen when needed, for example.

The British public expects us to keep these powers in case they are needed during the winter.

The government has not confirmed which provisional provisions will be extended or when the vote will take place exactly.

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