Tiers impact assessment: Fury as Gov admits it still doesn’t know the economic hit of ‘draconian’ new system

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FURIOUS MPs blasted the tough new Tier systems system again today – as the Government admitted they have no idea about the huge economic hit it will have.

The PM is fighting his mutinous backbenchers this evening ahead of a crunch vote tomorrow – as up to 100 are concerned and could vote against it.

The PM observing the quality testing of the Covid 19 vaccine today in Wrexham, North Wales

Toughened up new Tiers rules will come into law on Wednesday, when the second lockdown ends, which will plunge nearly the entire country into harsher restrictions.

But backbenchers insist that they don’t have enough information on the economic hit that could be to come if the Tiers system stays in place until March, as is planned.

Mel Stride MP, Chair of the Treasury Committee, raged tonight: “On a number of occasions, I’ve requested from the Chancellor and Treasury officials that they publish an analysis of the economic impacts of the three tiers.

“With little over 24 hours until MPs vote on the new tiered system, this rehashed document offers very little further in economic terms other than that which the OBR published last week.

“It’s frustrating that there is little here that sets out how the different tiers might impact on the specific sectors and regions across the country.

“Those looking for additional economic analysis of the new tiered system will struggle to find it in this document.”

And Mark Harper of the Covid Recovery Group blasted: “I am disappointed MPs, journalists and the public have been given so little time to digest information of this magnitude.

“We are, after all, talking about imposing some of the most severe restrictions on our constituents and the way they lead their lives and run their businesses. This information is what Ministers should have been insisting on before they made their decisions so it surely could have been made available earlier.”

MPs have demanded information on the economic consequences of lockdown for weeks.

Earlier today Cabinet minister George Eustice admitted the tiers were “draconian” and “unfair” to some.

But he stressed that it was necessary to keep infections low when England comes out of the national lockdown on Wednesday.

 

MPs are due to vote on the toughened up tiers system tomorrow afternoon.

Up to 100 MPs are said to have concerned with it.

However, it’s likely that the vote will comfortably pass if, as expected, Labour backs the new law.