Coronavirus: Sussex MPs Who Voted Against Tier System

Three Sussex MPs voted against England's new tiered system of coronavirus restrictions that were approved yesterday (December 1).

According to Sky News, the new measures were approved by 291 votes to 78, a majority of 213.

A total of 55 Tories rebelled, with 52 voting against the Covid-19 restrictions and a further two acting as tellers for the noes.

A total of 15 Labour MPs and eight DUP MPs voted against the tiered system.

A government spokesman told Sky News:

"[The tiered system] will help to safeguard the gains made during the past month and keep the virus under control.

"We will continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is currently sitting as an independent, voted against.

In East Sussex, Huw Merriman, the MP for Bexhill and Battle voted against the measures.

He's previously called it 'disappointing' that East Sussex is in Tier 2.

In West Sussex, Henry Smith, the MP for Crawley voted against the new tier system.

On Twitter he said the restrictions 'do far more harm to  our economic wellbeing' and called opposition parties pathetic for abstaining.

Disappointing East Sussex is in Tier 2 (we are 146th out of 149 authorities with the lowest rates). Today, I raised lack of Government consultation with our local NHS and County leads when making this decision. #tiersystem #BusinessQuestions pic.twitter.com/09VTXSRA6p

— Huw Merriman MP (@HuwMerriman) November 26, 2020

House of Commons: I will vote against the new Covid tiers system tonight because these restriction do far more harm to our economic wellbeing and other health issues. I have no truck with opposition parties who will pathetically abstain to cynically avoid and exploit this issue.

— Henry Smith MP (@HenrySmithUK) December 1, 2020

Tim Loughton, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham also voted against the new regulations.

He spoke in the House of Commons yesterday:

"I cannot support these regulations, it is not because I am some sort of rebel or want to undermine the government.

"I, like many other honourable members, have come to this conclusion and  want to look their constituents in the eye, and come to a decision that's in their best interest.

"That's what we were elected here to do.

"And I do think it's extraordinary that the Labour party is not here to look anybody in the eye in one of the biggest decisions we're being asked to make.

"It's a real cop out frankly.

"When I look my constituents in the eye I will have to justify why tomorrow we will be going into tier two.

"And I can trump everybody here because Worthing in my constituency has 28 out of 100,000 - the lowest in the country.

"The other part of my constituency, Adur, is 45.

"We're surrounded either side by Arun with 55, Brighton and Hove with 57 and Horsham with 67, all below. And the sea, hopefully zero.

"Worthing Hospital has four covid patients, last week it had eight.

"Our infection rates are falling, our patient levels are falling, and yet tomorrow my constituency will be going into Tier 2, having started the lockdown in tier one and having come down continuously in the right direction.

"Where is the logic in that?"

“We need to have logical, consistent, proportionate and fair regulations for people to have the confidence to follow them - these are not.”

Why I am voting against the new regulations. 👇 pic.twitter.com/aoU5kBpjTW

— Tim Loughton MP 🇺🇦 (@timloughton) December 1, 2020