MPs approve renewal of emergency coronavirus laws after after Matt Hancock pledges to 'consult Parliament' on new measures

A partial climbdown was announced by Boris Johnson’s government today as it agreed to hold more Commons votes on emergency coronavirus laws following heavyweight interventions by the Speaker, the leader of Tory backbenchers and MPs from all sides of the House of Commons.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave a promise that votes would be called “wherever possible” before “significant” emergency national laws such as the 10pm curfew and the Rule of Six come into force. However, local lockdowns and minor measures are not covered by the pledge.

It followed an uprising by MPs against the much-criticised “rule by fiat” during the coronavirus pandemic, when heavy restrictions were imposed on the public and businesses without proper debate or scrutiny in Parliament.

“I have listened to the concerns about scrutiny,” said Mr Hancock at the start of a debate on renewing the Coronavirus Act 2020. “And as you pointed out earlier Mr Speaker there have been times when we have not been able to do this as well as we would have liked.

“I therefore propose that we change the approach to bringing in urgent measures … I can confirm to the House that for significant national measures we will consult Parliament and wherever possible we will hold votes before such measures come into force.”

His announcement was immediately welcomed by Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers and other MPs who had taken part in a cross-party uprising against the way laws were being made by ministerial decree.

“Thank you for being prepared to listen,” said Sir Graham. “We are grateful that he and other members of the Government have understood the importance of proper scrutiny in this place, and the benefits that can bring to better governance.”

Following the debate, MPs approved a motion to renew the emergency coronavirus powers by 330 votes to 24.

Although Mr Hancock’s olive branch appears have defused the immediate crisis, MPs say they will be watching in case important measures are slipped through on the grounds they are local rather than national, or that they are too urgent to wait for a vote.

Earlier Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle launched an excoriating attack on Boris Johnson’s “contempt” for Parliament and “disregard for the House” during the pandemic.

In a wounding rebuke from the chair, the Speaker said the Government’s “excuses” for ignoring the Commons were “unconvincing”.

Si Brady used an interview with the Standard to demand that Mr Johnson adopt “a new modus operandi” and include MPs in the discussion of new laws.

Some 80 MPs signed the proposed Brady amendment designed to force more votes, including senior Tories, Labour, Lib Dem and DUP MPs.

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