UK Extends Emergency Coronavirus Powers For Another 6 Months

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Bojo Coronavirus act

British lawmakers agreed on Thursday to prolong coronavirus emergency measures for six months.

This wll allowing the Conservative government to keep its unprecedented powers to restrict the everyday lives of UK citizens.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed by 484 votes to 76, despite opposition from more than 30 Tory backbenchers. They voted against extending the powers until September, calling them “draconian”.

Sky News reports: Labour officially supported the government, although 21 of its MPs voted against it, but it was the 35 Conservative members who voted “no” that were a thorn in the health secretary’s side.

The Coronavirus Act was fast-tracked through parliament in four days in March 2020 to bring in emergency powers to respond to the pandemic as the UK went into its first lockdown.

Its temporary measures have to be reviewed then renewed every six months.

The extension until September does not mean restrictions will definitely continue until then, with the government hoping to lift all of them by 21 June.

The powers include allowing the emergency registration of healthcare professionals such as nurses, the power to temporarily close schools and prevent tenants from being evicted.

One of the main issues of contention was extending police and immigration officials’ powers to remove people who are suspected of having COVID-19.

The power to prohibit or restrict events and gatherings on public health grounds was also another sticking point for many MPs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs ahead of the vote: “I cannot answer whether we will be retiring it in six months. My preference would be yes, but given the last year, I think a prediction would be hasty.”

He said extending the act was a path to freedom.

Many MPs are against the extension as they believe it is “excessive and disproportionate”, Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the COVID Recovery Group of lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs, said.

The act was described as “draconian” by several MPs ahead of the vote.

Former chief whip Mark Harper, who leads the COVID Recovery Group, said the “extraordinary provisions” should expire “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Mr Harper – and several other MPs – said they were particularly concerned about police being handed powers to detain potentially infectious people, which he said have been used unlawfully in the past year.

2 Comments

  1. “Democratic vote” on allowing the “UK Government” to keep unlawful power which it will not want to lose. Many of these powers are being moved to other acts and laws in hiding.
    If people did not realise yet we do not live in a free and democratic country anymore and our so called Conservative Government is not actually running our country.

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