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Boris Johnson faces possible Tory revolt in vote on extending coronavirus restrictions

Boris Johnson faces the prospect of a Tory rebellion when MPs are asked to approve the extension of coronavirus restrictions in England until July 19.

The House of Commons will vote on Wednesday evening on the four-week delay to the end of lockdown measures, aimed at buying more time for the vaccine programme.

Labour has signalled it will back the extension so the Prime Minister should be spared a defeat, but Conservative lockdown-sceptics are likely to express their anger during a debate.

Scientific advisers have said the delay is necessary to prevent a fresh spike in hospital admissions due to the rapidly spreading Delta variant first identified in India.

People sit at outdoor tables at a restaurant in Soho, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm Monday that the next planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed as a result of the spread of the delta variant first identified in India. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)© ASSOCIATED PRESS People sit at outdoor tables at a restaurant in Soho, in London, Monday, June 14, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm Monday that the next planned relaxation of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed as a result of the spread of the delta variant first identified in India. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said it would take something “unprecedented and remarkable” for restrictions to be extended any further than July 19.

Mr Johnson will face Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions, but it will be Health Secretary Matt Hancock who will open the debate on extending the restrictions.

Delays are also expected to hit Scotland after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the mainland’s move to the lowest level of restrictions will “likely” be delayed by three weeks.

The latest figures show 1,136 patients with Covid-19 were in hospital in the UK on June 13, an 18% rise from the previous week and the highest number since May 7.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove walks to Downing Street after attending a cabinet meeting at the FCO on September 22, 2020 in London, England. Boris Johnson met with Cabinet this morning ahead of his statement in the House of Commons on the next steps to help curb the spread coronavirus in the UK. Cases have risen over 4000 per day, and are at their highest since the height of lockdown in May, earlier this year. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)© 2020 Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove walks to Downing Street after attending a cabinet meeting at the FCO on September 22, 2020 in London, England. Boris Johnson met with Cabinet this morning ahead of his statement in the House of Commons on the next steps to help curb the spread coronavirus in the UK. Cases have risen over 4000 per day, and are at their highest since the height of lockdown in May, earlier this year. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)

Leaders in the hospitality sector have said they are “bitterly disappointed” by the delay and called for a postponement to the reintroduction of business rates payments to support struggling firms.

Meanwhile, reports suggested ministers will soon announce they will change the law to make vaccines mandatory for care home staff over concerns about take-up.

Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) did not deny a report by the Guardian saying ministers will approve the measure for social care workers in England.

Under the plans, staff working with adults will be given 16 weeks to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs, according to the newspaper.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock gestures to the media before appearing on The Andrew Marr show on the BBC on June 6, 2021 in London, England. The weekly news program features Marr, former BBC Political Editor, interviewing politicians and other newsmakers on current events. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)© 2021 Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 06: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock gestures to the media before appearing on The Andrew Marr show on the BBC on June 6, 2021 in London, England. The weekly news program features Marr, former BBC Political Editor, interviewing politicians and other newsmakers on current events. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has said that all over-18s should be able to apply for a vaccine “by the end of this week”.

But a possible rift appears to have formed between the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations (JCVI) and ministers over the vaccination of younger people.

The Telegraph reported the JCVI will recommend against the vaccination of under 18s in an “interim” statement until more data can be obtained on the risks.

However, a senior Government source pointed towards an earlier decision from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the approach in other nations.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, June 15, 2021. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS© Thomson Reuters Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts in the garden of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, June 15, 2021. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS

“The Pfizer vaccine has been licensed for 12-15 year olds by the MHRA and a number of countries will be vaccinating children in those age groups,” the source said.

“Ministers have not received advice and no decisions have been taken.”

Local leaders in England have raised concerns over possible shortages of the Pfizer vaccine in their areas and concerns of a delay to the roll-out of jabs.

Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, told the Telegraph that unless the Government can deliver Pfizer or Moderna vaccines “in the right numbers”, it is “hard to see how we can safely unlock on July 19” adding “that goes for the whole country”.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in central London.Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in central London.

Last week, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi admitted Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine supplies will be “tight” over the next few weeks, but said he was confident of offering every adult a first dose by the end of July.

That target has now changed, with the Government announcing on Monday the target has been brought forward to July 19.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman insisted there are “no shortages” of vaccines and that “deliveries are coming in on time and as ordered”.

Source: Standard.co.uk

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