Boris Johnson on collision course with rebels over Covid tiers

Tory MPs were on a collision course with Boris Johnson over the economic impact of England's new tiers on Sunday night, as they warned that tens of thousands of jobs would be put at risk without major concessions by the Government.

The Prime Minister had attempted to head off a rebellion by up to 100 backbenchers by promising a review of the tiers in mid-December, with a vote and "sunset" clause at the beginning of February that could remove them altogether.

But his weekend letter to all MPs and peers explaining the proposals failed to allay the concerns of backbenchers, who are demanding a comprehensive assessment of the economic, social and health impact of the decision to place 99 per cent of the country under Tier 2 or 3.

The assessment is due to be published on Monday before MPs vote on Tuesday on the tiers, which will replace the national lockdown on Wednesday. A government defeat is not on the cards as Labour is unlikely to vote against the tiers but it could abstain to maximise pressure on Mr Johnson.

Mark Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, said the Government needed to publish "hard evidence, not hyperbole" to justify the tiers, and warned fellow MPs that for all the promises of a sunset clause on Feb 3, the measures were likely to last until Easter.

The former chief whip said ministers had "made it clear" that they were unlikely to "decouple" areas so that enclaves with low infection rates would be removed from Tier 2 and 3 restrictions - a position confirmed on Sunday by Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary.

"I think colleagues just need to go into this vote with their eyes open. If they vote in favour of these measures that broadly, I think we're going to be stuck with them until Easter," said Mr Harper.

"That's going to have a really big economic impact on thousands of businesses and perhaps tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of jobs.

"We're simply saying if we're going to make these decisions, you need to put the information in front of MPs. We need hard evidence, not hyperbole."

In an article for The Daily Telegraph, Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, said: "To sanction such draconian and often seemingly illogical restrictions, I would need a chance to vote on this again soon after Christmas. MPs must not be faced with a 'take it or leave it' set of rules that will last for a whole two months.

"No amount of evidence, data or analysis produced by the Government could convince me that that sort of imposition could be proportionate."

Tim Loughton, a former minister, said that, despite the Prime Minister's letter, the Government had failed to produce any details or data to justify placing low-rate areas in and around his East Worthing and Shoreham constituency in Tier 2. He said: "People's patience is being more and more tested.

"The economic impact assessment has to be something that is really detailed and convincing. I very much doubt it will be. It will be a token."

A Red Wall MP said: "What would make it easier for Tory MPs in the North, Midlands and North Wales to support the Government would be if there was a specific package and proper light at the end of the tunnel for wet pubs, otherwise they won't survive."

They added: "I have spoken to a number of colleagues and if they don't get the support they need, they won't be supporting the Government."