TIER TROUBLE
Whole of England could be in top Covid tiers with ‘NO ONE in Tier 1’ – as angry Tories blast ‘lockdown by another name’
THE whole of England could be placed into the top levels of restrictions after lockdown ends - leaving no one in Tier 1, it has been reported.
Boris Johnson could face a "major revolt" within his party if the new regional tier system is seen as "lockdown by another name", Tory MPs warned last night.
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Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that "very few" parts of the country would go into Tier 1, which is the only level that allows people to socialise indoors with other households.
One source said that at least 80 per cent of the country would be in Tiers 2 and 3 when the second national lockdown ends on December 2.
Another source told the paper it was "entirely possible that no one is in Tier One"; after the latest figures are analysed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty tomorrow.
Tory MPs have warned that the new "toughened" tier system could reignite the North-South divide.
One Tory MP last night said the PM could face a Commons revolt over the tier system.
The source claimed almost 100 Tory MPs have raised concerns about the crippling damage to the economy from the restrictions that are due to last until April.
Conservative WhatsApp groups have reportedly been filled with “fury” and “anger” over the post-lockdown plan.
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One senior Tory told “The idea seems to be to move everybody up, Tier 2 becomes a shady Tier 3, Tier 3 is lockdown. Tier 1 is all but abolished.
“There’s fury and anger at Boris Johnson on the backbenches about this. He doesn’t seem to care about the economic impact all of this is having. There’s going to be a major revolt.”
London MPs are pushing for the capital be placed in Tier 1 - despite rising cases - because of the city's economic significance.
However, it could anger Tory MPs in "Red Wall" seats who appear to be facing the "inevitable" return of Tier 2 and 3.
MPs and local leaders are battling to stop their areas from being plunged into the higher tiers from next week.
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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 Tier 3 areas will get access to mass testing using quick result kits to try to 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.
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