Boris Johnson news: Senior Tory MP says government ‘ruling by decree’ over new Covid powers

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Edward Leigh brands Covid restrictions "authoritarianism"

A senior Tory has accused the government of "ruling by decree" for "imposing" new coronavirus restrictions without proper debate and voting procedures.

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, told the BBC that ministers were treating the British people "like children", as regulations such as the “rule of six” have not been subject to sufficient scrutiny by MPs.

Mr Brady’s remarks came a day before Boris Johnson is scheduled to convene a Cobra meeting to discuss the government’s emergency response to the rapidly increasing number of Covid-19 infections in the UK.

Meanwhile former prime minister Theresa May accused the government of acting “recklessly and irresponsibly” over the UK Internal Market Bill - which ministers admit would break international law by overriding the prime minister’s Brexit deal.

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[21 September 2020 19:00 · Peter Stubley]

Over at the virtual Labour conference, shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds has accused the government of being “incompetent and callous”. 

“We have a Tory government so determined to dehumanise people they would rather leave unaccompanied children in the burning Moria refugee camp, than live up to our promise to help them," he said.

"Or mobilise the Royal Navy against dinghies in the English Channel - in a bid to militarise a human crisis. At the same time, they are making the factors that drive people from their homes worse."

Mr Thomas-Symonds said abolishing the Department for International Development was "wrong and self-defeating" at a time when "war, persecution and poverty cause people to flee their homes".

"We live in a country led by an incompetent - and callous - Tory Party. And it's only a Labour government - led by our values - that can rebuild."

He also accused Home Secretary Priti Patel of using her words to "divide when she should seek to unite", and said she "fails to act when injustice stares her in the face" - such as with the Windrush scandal.

[21 September 2020 19:17 · Peter Stubley]

Sir Bob Neill, Tory chairman of the Commons Justice Committee, has indicated he is prepared to withdraw his amendment following the government’s compromise on the Internal Market Bill.

The senior Tory MP has tabled an amendment which calls for MPs to be given a vote on any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement.

He told the Commons: "This is not a carte blanche for the government - and in fairness I don't think ministers have ever taken it as such - and I think they know that it weighs heavily to do such a thing as well.

"That's why if the government moves amendment 66 tomorrow when we get to that stage, I will be prepared to withdraw my amendment but it is to give the government the chance to make its case as to why such an exceptional step should be necessary."

[21 September 2020 19:51 · Peter Stubley]

May to rebel over Brexit bill

Theresa May has vowed to rebel over the Brexit bill that ministers admitted will break international law, warning it “puts the future of the United Kingdom at risk”.

In a fiery Commons speech, the former prime minister said Boris Johnson’s partial concession – a parliamentary lock on using the legislation’s powers – would still leave the UK flouting “the rule of law”.

[21 September 2020 19:53 · Peter Stubley]

That’s it for our live politics coverage for today. Thanks for reading.