Northampton MP joins calls for more scrutiny of Government's Covid-19 lockdown laws

Northampton MP Andrew Lewer has joined calls for extra scrutiny by Parliament of the Government's Covid-19 laws.

Mr Lewer told the Commons on Monday night the "dystopian nature" of some of Boris Johnson's restrictions has already caused a considerable deal of damage in society.

He insists Parliament must be allowed to scruitinise any further measures before they are enforced and that the number of deaths rather than new cases should determine the severity of any new measures.

The Northampton South MP said: "I supported the Government in the decisions they took at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, when scientific understanding of this virus was not at the point that it is today.

"Tough decisions had to be made as to how to protect human life because we were still learning how the virus could be transmitted and who was most vulnerable to becoming critically ill if they were infected.

"I commend Ministers for acting as they did and when they did, as well as everyone who has gone the extra mile during this terrible time, in Northampton and elsewhere. The steps the Government took in the spring stopped the NHS being overwhelmed and saved lives.

"However, they also had a significant impact on our country in terms of the economy, society, the policing of our civil liberties and the devastating effect on people’s mental health.

"Data published daily by NHS England outlines that the number of people testing positive for Covid-19 is rising, yet the death rate is staying low. 'Yes, at the moment,' will be the response, and I acknowledge that, but I urge that that remains the key statistic either for further steps or for reeling back."

Nearly 17 million people in the UK are already living under restrictions imposed by the Government as the number of new Covid-19 cases in the country rises.

A growing number of MPs are likely to back an amendment to the Coronavirus Act tabled by senior Conservative backbencher Sir Graham Brady on Wednesday forcing the PM to go through Parliament with a debate and vote before introducing any new measures.

Mr Lewer added: "I am concerned about the impact on the economy, not only in terms of people’s livelihoods but in terms of the economy being able to provide for public services, particularly in non-Covid health, notably cancer and mental health services.

"In addition, I am concerned about the impact there has already been on people attending vital appointments at their local hospitals and receiving urgent medical treatment.

"Earlier today, a constituent sent me an interesting link to an open letter by 394 medical doctors and over 1,300 healthcare professionals in Belgium, touching on this exact point: a cure must not be worse than the disease.

"In essence, the dystopian nature of some of these restrictions has already caused a considerable deal of damage in society.

"I recognise the difficult balance and approach the Government had to take, but if we look at some other countries it becomes evident that there are alternative approaches to controlling the virus without as significant an impact on civil liberties or as damaging an effect on the economy."

And Mr Lewer warned the Government to scrap any thoughts of keeping any restrictions in place once a coronavirus vaccine is found.

He added: "I turn from the current challenges and dilemmas, the current agonising choices, blizzard of statistics and analysis of infection rates versus death rates, to a time — we hope and pray it will be soon — when we emerge from this, hopefully with a vaccine.

"I want to be very clear ​that any temptation on the part of the Government to attempt to keep any aspect of the restrictions, even if they have been determined to have been beneficial in some way, must be totally rejected.

"Any restrictive measure that has been implemented to fight coronavirus must go when a vaccine has been developed and distributed among much of the population.

"At that point, a bonfire of restrictions must be metaphorically set alight.

"My inbox has seen a huge increase in people who now share that position with me.

"This has been a national trauma, and it has eroded our nation’s civil liberties to a level that we have not seen in this country during peacetime. It is therefore crucial that every opportunity for public and parliamentary scrutiny is availed of."