MPs have backed the extension of Covid rules for further six months. The measures give the Government the authority to continue to implement strict Covid rules throughout the roadmap out of lockdown.
While a number of Tory MPs voted against the extension, Labour supported the Government, securing Boris Johnson an easy Commons majority.
In total 484 MPs voted to extend the emergency laws, while 76 voted against.
New rules have also been introduced as part of the legislation, with it now illegal for the public to travel abroad from Monday.
Anyone found leaving the country faces up to a £5,000 fine unless they are exempt from the ban.
Speaking in the Commons Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the powers wee necessary in order to help the country beat the pandemic as quickly as possible.
He said: “There are parts of this Act that have allowed us to do good things that everybody would like to see like that, and so when we do come to retire this Act, which we must within one year and preferably within six months, we will need to make sure that we can continue to do that sort of thing and make sure that nurses can be enrolled as easily as possible into the NHS.”
However, he refused to rule out today’s vote being the last extension of the emergency powers and warned the Government could ask for the extraordinary lockdown powers to be extended again in the autumn.
He said: “I cannot answer whether we will be retiring it in six months.
“My preference would be yes, but given the last year, I think a prediction would be hasty.”
More to follow…
