Tatton MP Esther McVey will vote this week (WED SEPT 30) support an amendment to force Government to give MPs a vote on any future Coronavirus measures.
The Coronavirus Act was passed in the spring and must be renewed every six months to allow Covid-19 restrictions to be enforced.
But Ms McVey, along with a growing number of MPs want Parliament to debate and vote every time new powers are used. It could end the current status quo of emergency measures being signed off by Health Secretary Matt Hancock under the terms of the Coronavirus Act or the 1984 Public Health Act.
Ms McVey said: “We have got to a stage where people’s liberties are being taken away and that cannot be done lightly. I have weighed up and pros and cons and strongly believe it is right MPs have a vote on whether these powers should be used and how restrictive they should be.
“MPs are elected to represent their constituents and hold Government to account and that is what we must do, we simply cannot allow Government to make decisions which affect our way of life and not have the chance to challenge it. I have spoken to many people concerned about the restrictions in other parts of the country so it is right I make both mine and their concerns heard.”
Ms McVey will support an amendment tabled by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee, which represents backbench Conservatives, to add provision that each time new powers are used by ministers, Parliament will have the opportunity to debate and vote on their use.
It is now up to Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to decide whether to allow the amendment on Wednesday. It is also possible Government will try to compromise with the MPs in a bid to stop the amendment being called amid fears it could lose the vote.
