Inside Politics: Tory rebels to stage revolt over tier system

Up to 70 backbenchers could defy Boris Johnson after government document gave little away on economy, writes Adam Forrest

Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street (AFP via Getty Images)

Is it a sin to be naive? Rita Ora has apologised for throwing a big birthday bash in a west London restaurant – saying she had a “misguided view” that because we’re coming out of lockdown “this would be okay”. Speaking of naive, it seems Boris Johnson was misguided in believing he could win over his backbenchers as we come out of lockdown. It looks like rebel Tory MPs are furious enough about the replacement tier system to cause a major uprising in parliament – but Labour should help the PM avoid a humiliating defeat.

Inside the bubble

 

Chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today:

The cabinet meets this morning, presumably to be updated on the push to get Conservative MPs to vote tonight for the tiers of coronavirus restrictions. Busy day in committee corridor: Richard Hughes, new chair of the OBR Responsibility gives evidence on last week’s spending review, while Lord Evans, chair of the committee on standards in public life, will be asked about home secretary Priti Patel. Michael Gove will be doing the broadcast round, appearing on Today at 8.10am and Good Morning Britain at 8.30am.

 

Daily briefing

 

WHEELS OFF THE BUS: Up to 70 rebel Tory MPs are expected to vote against Boris Jonson’s new tier system this evening. They were unimpressed by the government “data” explaining its decisions. The hastily-put-together document claimed it was impossible to make any “meaningful” predictions about the economic impacts of restrictions. Mark Harper, leader of the backbenchers’ Covid Recovery Group, said: “The wheels are coming off the government’s arguments.” Will Labour rescue the PM? In effect, yes – by abstaining in the crucial vote. Keir Starmer said his party was acting “in the national interest” by not opposing the regulations, but warned that England could be left going “round and round in circles” with the tiers. So the system will pass, but it will be the first time that Covid restrictions will be imposed without majority support in parliament.

 

SEEING RED: Rebel Tories may get even angrier this morning. The government has reportedly drawn up a secret dossier outlining the impact of Covid on the economy – with the worst-hit sectors rated “red”. It gives officials “granular” detail on job cuts and revenue losses, according to The Times – exactly the sort of stuff the rebels had been asking to see. Elsewhere today, the government’s new points-based immigration rules go live. All foreign nationals, including those from the EU, will have to apply online for a visa to work in the UK. Home secretary Priti Patel has promised it will be “simple and flexible”. Her cabinet colleague Michael Gove, meanwhile, is announcing a new Border Operations Centre. Gove said the new, 24/7 system would allow the authorities to identify and get on top of any border bottlenecks “quickly and decisively”. But Labour’s Rachel Reeves said: “The government is re-badging a basic element of preparation but still can’t tell us how many customs agents are recruited or trained or whether crucial IT is ready.”

 

SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON: Are Covid rules distracting us from even-more-important Brexit business? Possibly. But there’s little to report in the way of breakthroughs. No 10 continues to see the EU’s demands on fishing quotas “wholly unacceptable”, government sources have said. Intriguingly, EU sources have made clear to reporters they see fisheries as something which can be sorted. But they view other problems – level playing field issues and an enforcement mechanism – as more serious. Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel said some EU member states were growing impatient. “It would not be a good example for the world if we didn’t manage to craft an agreement,” she added. Merkel also pointed positively to the fact said European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was getting “increasingly involved”. Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon sent a message to the EU: “Scotland wants to return. And we hope to do so soon, as an independent member state.”

 

SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Sturgeon had a nice curveball for full-time NHS and care workers in Scotland, announcing a £500 one-off “thank you” payment for their efforts during the pandemic. Mark Drakeford also had a surprise for the people of Wales – but not in a good way. The first minister announced pubs and restaurants will be banned from serving alcohol from Friday, and will have to shut at 6pm. Drakeford said the rules were needed to tackle another rise in cases. Indoor entertainment venues will also be shut again. It comes as the contact-tracing app for England and Wales prepares to add a payment feature for self-isolation. Those told to stay at home should get £500 from next week. Covid-related surprises don’t end there. Drinkers in tier 2 areas should be able order a Scotch egg with their pint to stay within the rules, environment secretary George Eustice revealed. He warned Scotch egg-eaters not to cheat: “You can’t sit at a table all night ordering drink.”

 

TIME IS MY SIDE: Boris Johnson wants the power to call a general election when he feels like it. His government will publish legislation repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (FTPA) today. It would give the PM a big advantage in timing the next election to maximise his chances of winning another term. A Tory source said: “We are going back to the system that lets elections happen when they are needed.” It seems the timing isn’t right for a public inquiry into the murder of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane. Finucane was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989, and his family has been trying to establish the scale of state collusion ever since. Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said there would be no inquiry now because of other, ongoing review processes. Finucane’s widow Geraldine said it “makes a mockery” of previous rulings – including the decision by the Supreme Court which found there had never been adequate investigation into the murder.

 

ORDER RESTORED: Joe Biden has selected the ex-Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen as his nominee for the treasury secretary role. Set to become the first woman ever in the job, she said she would work to “restore the American dream”. The president-elect got his first daily intelligence briefing, as Donald Trump’s almighty huff begins to run out of steam. He said to be calmer now, but still delusional. Former Trump employee Jack O’Donnell said: “In his mind, he will not have lost. It will always be, ‘It was taken from me.’”. Meanwhile, Trump’s special adviser on the coronavirus Scott Atlas has resigned. Thanking the outgoing president for the honour of serving, Dr Atlas claimed he had “always relied on the latest science” – but he was the official who tweeted that people should “rise up” against state restrictions and pushed the idea of herd immunity.

 

On the record

 

“The light of dawn is on the horizon, it’s the moment to stand firm until the morning so we can look back and see clearly that everything we gave and everything we did, it was not for nothing.”

Matt Hancock pleads for Tory MPs’ support.

 

From the Twitterati

 

“Brexiteers angry and irate at the exact thing, they voted and campaigned for.”

Dr Jennifer Cassidy is amazed at reports of Brexiteer ‘fury’ over inability to access second homes all-year round…

 

“Brexiteers were furious when told people really didn’t know what they were voting for. Now they are furious because ... eh, people didn’t know what they were voting for.”

…while Gavin Esler also recalls previous claims.

 

Essential reading

 

Alastair Campbell, The Independent: Labour shouldn’t automatically vote for any Boris Johnson Brexit deal

 

Andrew Grice, The Independent: This Tory rebellion is one time Boris Johnson can’t have his cake and eat it

 

Helen Thompson, New Statesman: Dominic Cummings understood the Tories’ Europe problem

 

Robert Reich, The Guardian: Going ‘back to normal’ would be disastrous for Joe Biden

 

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