MPs vote to extend Covid rules as daily cases climb past 9,000

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The prime minister insisted he did not want to see Covid restrictions last forever but “a little more time” was needed to vaccinate millions more people to help combat the spread of the Delta variant. And Conservative William Wragg asked: “When can we expect the coordinated chorus of Sage members recommencing their media appearances to depress morale?” Mr Johnson replied: “I believe that academic and scientific freedom are an invaluable part of our country and I also note that my scientific colleagues would echo my sentiments that we need to learn to live with Covid.” In a sign that cabinet ministers have concerns about the extension, Commons leader Mr Rees-Mogg told his ConservativeHome podcast: “You can’t run society just to stop the hospitals being full, otherwise you’d never let us get in our cars and drive anywhere or do any of the other things that people want to do, so there has to be some proportionality.” In a seven-hour debate, a string of senior Tories spoke out against the plan, after the PM admitted he cannot absolutely rule out a further delay if dangerous new strains of the virus emerge. Former cabinet minister Sir John Redwood said: “It’s time to trust people more, it is time to control people less.” And ex-minister Tim Loughton said: “I’m done with making excuses to my constituents for when their lives might just get back to some degree of normality.” Another former member of cabinet, Karen Bradley, said she could not explain to her constituents why they have to wait longer for joyful events like big weddings and family get-togethers. At the end of this month, they’ll be another variant … the Peruvian variant, Paddington Bear will be arrested at Paddington station and put in quarantine, it’ll go on and on and on.” Former minister Huw Merriman said that young people “need to see a return” to normality.