FURIOUS ministers have accused the Government of “finger in the air” decisions on where to plunge into harsher Tier 2 and 3 restrictions after lockdown ends.
Tory MPs are ready for a fight if the majority of the country ends up under more severe rules, with the tier announcement expected tomorrow.
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The country still has another week of national lockdown to complete, but which tier each area will go back into will be revealed this week.
And the Prime Minister is facing fury from his own party members, threatening to vote against the tiers if they appear to be “lockdown by another name”.
They have warned it should not be a blanket approach across regions with differing rates, and claim the allocation markers are vague with no specific number thresholds.
Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh blasted the criteria, telling MailOnline: “There is no assessment. it is all finger in the air… ”that seems a way to do it’.”
The PM could see a “major revolt” after it was reported that 80 per cent of the country could be forced into the toughest restrictions.
The tier system, which the country was in before lockdown is due to be beefed up, making the restrictions even harsher.
They will form the basis of the “Winter Plan”, expected to be in place until around Easter.
Boris Johnson has said the allocation is based on “common sense” with a number of metrics used to decide how strongly to restrict areas.
THE TOP 10 CORONAVIRUS HOTSPOTS IN ENGLAND
Data from PHE shows rates of coronavirus cases across England.
The figures, for the seven days to November 20 show that Swale has the most infections and that Teignbridge, has the least – with just 52.9 cases per 100,000.
Below are the 10 places with the highest cases in England per 100,000.
Swale – 539.7
Hull – 529.3
Thanet – 491.8
East Lindsey – 470.6
Stoke-on-Trent – 453.6
Dudley – 452.1
Boston – 438.9
Sandwell – 435.7
Hyndburn – 435.6
Kirklees – 430.7
These include case detection rates in the over 60s, the rate at which cases are falling or rising, pressure on the NHS and case detection rates in all age groups.
The number of positive cases found in a percentage of tests taken in certain areas will also come into consideration.
The PM is under massive pressure not to put huge swathes of the country into the harshest restrictions which will cripple businesses.
The latest infections data for England shows 269 out of 315 local authority areas have seen a fall in cases in the last seven days up to November 20.
Areas such as Hull in Yorkshire, Swale in Kent and East Lindsey in Lincolnshire are all expected to enter Tier 3 as they have some of the highest rates of infection in the country, Public Health England (PHE) data shows.
MPs are furious with more restrictions wreaking havoc on the economy – and have said they will be voting against the measures.
They are demanding impact assessments on the economy and NHS before they consider whether to back the plans, too – and to know how regions will get out of their restrictions.
Tory MP Anne Marie Morris MP said this week: “Serious damage has already been caused by previous lockdowns and restrictions and I simply will not vote for measures that cause further damage to the health and wellbeing (physical and economic) of our community.
“They need to produce the risk assessment for these measures and prove beyond doubt that they have an overall benefit.
“So far, that evidence and the necessary assessments have not been forthcoming, and, therefore, I will be voting against the measures. We need long term planning and an exit strategy, not short term, knee-jerk reactions.”
Chairman of the highly influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, called for more clarity on further Covid rules and said he may not back them in a Commons vote next week.
The North of England had previously been home to the majority of coronavirus infections and experts had previously warned that the virus “wasn’t just an issue in the North”.
On Friday estimates from Sage suggested that the North West of England currently has a R rate between 0.8 and 1.
Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday revealed that cases are decreasing in the North West.
The ONS stated that there are “substantial difference” in regional rates.
The official numbers body said: “Over the last week, infection rates have continued to increase in London, the East of England and the South East, however rates now appear to be decreasing in the North West and the East Midlands.
Tier 3 means restaurants and pubs have to close except for deliveries and click and collect, and indoor entertainment venues like cinemas, casinos and indoor play areas have to shut too.
But they will get access to mass testing using quick result kits to try and help lower them into Tier 2.
Mr Johnson admitted that “many more regions will fall – at least temporarily – into higher tiers than before” meaning more Brits face being unable to see friends and family inside until around Easter too as household mixing is banned in Tiers 2 and 3.