Government could lock down whole areas without informing MPs

The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has announced that wherever possible the government will allow MPs a vote on regulations that will apply to the whole of England or the United Kingdom.

It effectively means he can lockdown whole regions of the UK - such as the North West or North East- without seeking the approval of Parliament beforehand.

The Health Secretary told MPs: “Today I can confirm to the House that for significant national measures, with effect in the whole of England or UK-wide, we will consult Parliament – wherever possible we will hold votes before such regulations come into force.

“But, of course, responding to the virus means that the government must act with speed when required and we cannot hold up urgent regulations which are needed to control the virus and save lives.”

The lack of governance by government during the pandemic led to the Speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, issuing an extraordinary attack before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

Boris Johnson’s government has been forced to promise MPs a vote over major coronavirus laws “wherever possible” after being accused of treating Parliament with contempt by the Commons Speaker.

In a strongly worded statement, Sir Lindsay hit out at the “totally unsatisfactory” way that Parliament had been sidelined, with new laws being brought in without scrutiny and sometimes published just hours before coming into force.

"All too often, important statutory instruments have been published a matter of hours before they come into force and some explanations as to why important measures have come into effect before they can be laid before this House has been unconvincing and shows a total disregard for the House,” Sir Lindsay said, just before Mr Johnson faced PMQs.

He called on Mr Johnson’s government to “rebuild trust” with the Commons “and not treat it with the contempt that it has shown”.