MPs have voted to extend emergency coronavirus powers for another six months.

A majority of MPs have backed the health secretary's call to renew "essential" emergency rules to deal with the pandemic as England moves out of lockdown. But some Conservatives voted against the measures saying they were "out of step" with the roadmap for lifting restrictions. Ministers say the powers will stay in place "only as long as necessary".

The Coronavirus Act came in to force in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic with ministers pledging to use the measures "when strictly necessary".

The law gave the government wide-ranging powers unlike others seen before - from shutting down pubs, through to detaining individuals deemed at risk as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

MPs voted by 484 to 76 to extend it.

MPs agreed to extend it until the end of September as well as voting on England's roadmap out of lockdown and the continuation of virtual proceedings in the Commons.

Opening the debate ahead of the vote, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the legislation had been a "crucial part" of the government's response to coronavirus, enabling ministers to bring forward measures such as furlough and statutory sick pay for those self-isolating. But he said 12 provisions in the legislation were no longer needed because of progress that had been made in dealing with the virus. These include easing some responsibilities on the social care sector, laws governing the retention of biometric data for health and security purposes, and obligations on businesses that work in the food supply chain. Mr Hancock acknowledged some people were concerned about the powers contained in the act.

He said: "Although this act remains essential and there are elements of it which we are seeking the renewal of, we have always said we will only retain powers as long as they are necessary."

But senior Conservative MP, Sir Charles Walker, said he did not believe this would be the last request for an extension. "We will be back here in six months at the end of September being asked to renew this legislation again," he said. "It is inevitable and anyone who thinks it's not inevitable is deluding themselves."

The chairman of the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs, Sir Graham Brady, said he would vote against because "it is important we make the case for a return to normality and trusting people with their own lives". He said: "These powers were given by Parliament to government last March as a very temporary set of extreme emergency measures. Nobody then envisaged that they would still be in place a year later, still be in use 18 months on.

"I think we need to be very cautious about the dangers of normalising what is actually a very extreme policy response."

The deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of lockdown sceptics, Conservative Steve Baker, said the vote was a "rare opportunity" for MPs to "say no to a new way of life in a checkpoint society". He said he was reassured by the prime minister's comment at the Liaison Committee on Wednesday that "anything that is redundant will go".

Labour backed the extension of the emergency powers but said its support was not offered "with any enthusiasm". The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said: "Given the loss of life we have suffered and given the risks of mutations that could set us back, we must have zero tolerance to letting the virus rage unchecked.

"For that reason we do accept that restrictions have to stay in place and for that reason we support the renewal of the act and the public health regulations."

The Liberal Democrats voted against the measures. One of its MPs, Tim Farron, said the powers were "an over-reach" that the government "does not need" and he described them as a "default knee-jerk attempt to seek draconian powers" that he said "fit in to a pattern" of eroding civil liberties.

Reported by the BBC.

More than 30 Tory MPs voted against legislation which was passed in the Commons to extend coronavirus laws for a further six months. MPs voted by 484 votes to 76 in favour of keeping emergency powers in the Coronavirus Act in place until September.

The division list showed that 35 Conservative MPs voted against the legislation.

Lockdown-sceptic Conservative backbenchers were expected to vote against the coronavirus laws extension , while Labour backed the plans. The laws give the government wide-ranging powers unlike others seen before - from shutting down pubs, through to detaining individuals deemed at risk as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Britons will also face a £5,000 fine if they leave the UK without a reasonable excuse under the new legislation for restrictions.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock had earlier urged MPs to extend the “essential” emergency coronavirus powers but said some of the rules could be suspended. He told the Commons:

“Although this Act remains essential and there are elements of it which we are seeking the renewal of, we’ve always said that we would only retain powers as long as they are necessary.

“They are exceptional powers and they are approved by this House for the use in the most extremis situations and must be seen in this light. And because of the progress we have made, we are now able to expire and suspend a whole raft of measures within this Act, just as we expired provisions after the last review six months ago.”

The Health Secretary was challenged over whether emergency measures contained within the Coronavirus Act 2020 will still be needed in six months given Boris Johnson’s road map to lift all restrictions in England from June 21.

Mr Hancock told the Commons he “cannot answer” whether the Government will be “retiring” the legislation in October or whether it will be rolled on. But this prompted concerns from MPs who pressed for the Government to move quicker given the success of the vaccine programme.

Mark Harper, Pauline Latham, William Wragg, Steve Baker and Charles Walker, were among the Tory MPs who voted against the legislation. Mr Harper, a former Conservative minister, said the provisions in the legislation should be expired “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Reported by The Evening Standard

Image - UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor