Conservative MPs from across the country have voiced their disquiet over the new tier system, which sees counties grouped in to restrictions despite varying coronavirus case data. Only Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly will exit lockdown into tier one restrictions, with around 99 percent of the population thrown into strict measures. Mr Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have stressed the tougher restrictions across the country are necessary to avoid a third national lockdown, as the second is set to end on December 2.
The Covid Research Group, around 70 Tory MPs, have said they could vote down the new tier system next week in the House of Commons if there is no evidence it suppresses cases.
Kent MPs in particular were enraged by the blanket placement of the county into Tier Three restrictions, despite many areas recording declining cases.
Tunbridge Wells recorded 117.1 cases of the virus per 100,000 people, one of the lowest in the country, but has been placed into the toughest restrictions due to Swale, 619.7 per 100,000, seeing the highest rate of infection in the country.
Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells, said: “Very disappointed that Tunbridge Wells has been put into Tier 3, when Covid infections are about half the national average and falling.
“We need the full analysis to be made public and the decision reviewed.”
READ MORE: Coronavirus lockdown tiers will be over by Easter, says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson news: The Prime Minister’s tier system proposals have outraged Tory MPs (Image: PA)
Boris Johnson news: 99 percent of the UK has been thrown into Tier Two and up restrictions (Image: EXPRESS)
More MPs voiced their anger at the new system, with Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire which will be in Tier Two, adding to The Telegraph: “There is no logic whatsoever in having a month of lockdown only for people to have to live under an even more severe set of restrictions afterwards.”
Ms Baldwin went on to question Mr Johnson’s strategy of “cycles of damaging lockdowns and severe restrictions”, and said she would only vote for the new measures next week if evidence showed the tier system “explicitly” is “saving more lives than it costs”.
Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, also voiced his anger that his constituency has been lumped into Tier Three.
He said: “We went into lockdown at Tier 1 and came out at Tier 3. This isn’t working for us.”
Boris Johnson news: Around 70 Tory MPs could rebel against the Prime Minister on a vote for the tier system next week (Image: PA)
Boris Johnson news: The Prime Minister has stressed that the tiers are necessary to avoid a third lockdown (Image: PA)
All of the North East of England has been thrown into Tier Three restrictions, where many of Mr Johnson’s ‘red wall’ MPs won their seats in the 2019 general election.
Chris Green, MP for Bolton West, was confused over Liverpool moving into Tier Two while Bolton and Manchester remain in Tier Three, and added: “When people go Christmas shopping, a whole load of Mancunians might be going to Liverpool to do that.
“If the objective was to genuinely control coronavirus, you would not create an environment that encourages people to travel.
“It’s naive to think this wouldn’t happen. Confidence in the system is now lacking.”
DON’T MISS
Sturgeon blasted for ‘criminalising’ Scots as MSP exposes travel ban [INSIGHT]
Ruth Davidson warns Sturgeon tier order will be ‘hammer blow’ to Scots [VIDEO]
Coronavirus warning: WHO on alert amid ‘extremely concerning surge’ [WARNING]
Should all 70 MPs in the Covid Research Group revolt against the tier system, Mr Johnson’s coronavirus winter plan would be left in disarray.
The Prime Minister would be dependent on Labour votes for the new measures, with the opposition expected to support the bill in the Commons next week.
Mr Hancock also stressed that the decisions to throw large parts of the UK into Tier Two and up restrictions was not taken lightly, and was “made according to the best clinical advice”.
He added when speaking to MPs yesterday: “Thanks to the shared sacrifice of everyone in recent weeks, in following the national restrictions, we have been able to start to bring the virus back under control and slow its growth, easing some of the pressure on the NHS.
“We will do this by returning to a regional tiered approach, saving the toughest measures for the parts of the country where prevalence remains too high.”
Boris Johnson news: Should the Tories rebel, the Prime Minister will have to rely on votes from Labour (Image: PA)
Boris Johnson news: The UK recorded 17,555 cases along with 498 deaths yesterday (Image: EXPRESS)
The UK will exit nationwide lockdown restrictions next week, and enter into tier restrictions with the virus levelling out.
More than 55 million Britons will be placed into Tier Two and up restrictions on December 2.
Yesterday saw the UK record a further 17,555 cases along with 498 deaths.
In total the UK has reported 1,578,429 cases and 57,128 deaths from the virus since the start of the pandemic.
