Senior Tories pile pressure on Boris Johnson to end 'arbitrary' lockdown 'as soon as possible'

https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/senior-tories-pile-pressure-on-boris-johnson-to-end-arbitrary-lockdown-as-soon-as-possible

Senior Conservative MPs have lined up to demand that Boris Johnson lifts “arbitrary” coronavirus lockdown measures “as soon as possible”. Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, said the public may have been “a little too willing” to comply with the lockdown, as a string of MPs raised their concerns about the curbs ahead of the latest review at the end of this week.

Ministers are concerned that lifting measures too soon could cause the reproduction, or R, rate of the virus to head back above 1, a move which would trigger a second wave.

But, speaking in a Commons debate on Monday, Sir Graham said the latest review should focus on “removing restrictions and removing the arbitrary rules and limitations on freedom as quickly as possible”. And he said: “The public have been willing to assist. If anything, in some instances, it may be that the public have been a little bit too willing to stay at home.

That view was echoed by former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood, who warned that the restrictions were “doing great damage to the livelihoods and incomes of many of my constituents and people around the country” as he urged ministers “to find safe ways to get more people back to work as quickly as possible”.

Looks like the right wing is gearing up to import the US anti-lockdown movement

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Personally I'm waiting for people other than bowtie wearing blowhards like Peter Hitchens and Brendan O'Neil to start speaking out against the lockdown before I can say that it's making much headway. Most people, including Brexiteers and Tory voters are still more concerned with stopping a global pandemic.