By Local MPs to support new tiers in the Commons today
The Conservative MPs for Grimsby and Cleethorpes will be voting to support the Government’s plans for a revised tier system in the Commons vote this afternoon.
More than 55 million people will enter the two toughest tiers tomorrow (Wednesday) if the plans are passed, with North East Lincolnshire heading for Tier 3 (very high alert).
Grimsby MP Lia Nici announced today: “I will be voting today to support the tier system. The lockdown has brought down the infection rate in NE Lincs by everyone working together.
“By gradually easing restrictions as we enter tier 3 it will hopefully come down further.”
While Martin Vickers representing Cleethorpes said last week: “Having spent last couple of days being briefed by ministers and local health chiefs I will support the tier system.
“The approach is sensible. It’s a blow for many local businesses but we’ve got to squeeze out the virus. Better a few extra weeks of restrictions than prolonging agony.”
The vote is expected to take place at around 7pm.
Speaking during the debate ahead of the vote which is currently taking place, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Of course, I accept that this is not a return to normality – I wish it were so.
“But it is a bit closer to normality than the present restrictions, and what we can’t do is to lift all the restrictions at once or move too quickly in such a way that the virus would begin to spread rapidly again.”
He said the case for toughened tier restrictions across England was “compelling”.
The measures are expected to pass, but a number of Tory MPs are set to oppose the move, while Labour says it will abstain.
Sir Keir Starmer said Labour’s justification for abstaining was that they believed the government was failing to provide sufficient economic support for closed businesses and those self-isolating, but they didn’t want to vote against the measures in case it would lead to a government defeat.
