MP to vote against Coronavirus Act due to measures which would reduce rights to care for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people

Today, South Lakes MP Tim Farron will vote against the Coronavirus Act because of the Prime Minister's failure to reverse the reductions in rights to care for vulnerable people, particularly the disabled.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey wrote to the Prime Minister ahead of the vote to stress the legal advice shows that the measures in the Act are a breach of the UK's obligations under international law.

The Liberal Democrats, who supported emergency measures before the UK went into lockdown, have also pointed to 141 people wrongly prosecuted under the Act and the reduction in safeguards for detention under the Mental Health Act as reasons to withhold their support.

Tim said: " I support the restrictions to keep people safe such as self-isolation and face-covering rules - but none of these are part of the Coronavirus Act.

The Coronovirus Act has serious implications for people's freedoms and wellbeing. Most distressingly, it waters down of the rights to care for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people.

"Just imagine what that has meant for those children and their families. On top of all the other hardships of lockdown, having the lifeline of caring support cut off completely.

"We have appealed to the Prime Minister to listen and heed the legal advice, but he has refused.

"Therefore, Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are unable to vote for an Act that fails to care for the most vulnerable, sees people wrongfully charged and gives Ministers a blank cheque."