Keir Starmer says Labour will not side with Tory rebels to vote down 10pm pub curfew

Labour will not side with Tory rebels to defeat the government over its 10pm coronavirus pub curfew, Keir Starmer has indicated.

The leader of the opposition said that his party would not vote down the restriction, but warned there was “growing concern” about it.

It comes ahead of a parliamentary vote on the issue next week in which Conservative backbenchers are expected to voice concerns about the measures.

“There’s growing concern about the 10 pm curfew,” Sir Keir said on Thursday afternoon.

“The problem with the vote next week is it’s an up-down, take it or leave it vote, and therefore if you vote down the current arrangements, there won’t be any restrictions in place.

“That’s not what we want, so we won’t be voting down the restrictions in place.”

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told MPs this morning that they would get a debate on the measures, which apply to pubs and restaurants in England, next Tuesday. 

There have been claims that the 10pm curfew policy was not based on robust evidence, as well as suggestions that it might be counterproductive by triggering mass street parties in major cities.

Asked by his Labour opposite number Valerie Vaz for the evidence on the policy, Mr Rees-Mogg told the Commons: “As regards to evidence for individual measures, the Government is acting on the advice of Sage.

“The Government has consistently acted on the advice of Sage and all these measures come in on the best available advice – that is the whole point of having Sage in the first place.”

He added: “I am very glad to say that we now have a system where issues of national significance will be debated on the floor of the House.

“And I would note on the 10pm curfew, it is a nationally significant measure, and even though it is not strictly caught by the Health Secretary’s commitment last week, the Government took the decision to move the debate to the floor of the House in recognition of the level of the demand for the debate.

“So we are being responsive to what is being asked for and ensuring proper scrutiny.”

Last week Health Secretary Matt Hancock said MPs would be given a vote on new England-wide measures “wherever possible”.