CORONAVIRUS

Parliament surrendered to government in coronavirus pandemic, says Lady Hale

Baroness Hale of Richmond called for the return of a fully functioning constitution
Baroness Hale of Richmond called for the return of a fully functioning constitution
RICHARD POHLE/THE TIMES

Parliament “surrendered” its role to the government at a crucial time during the pandemic, the former president of the Supreme Court has said.

Boris Johnson is facing a backbench Tory revolt over plans to extend the emergency coronavirus powers for a further six months.

MPs will vote next week on renewing the “temporary provisions” in the Coronavirus Act that was passed at the start of the pandemic in March, but Baroness Hale of Richmond has suggested that parliament may have missed its best opportunity.

Sir Graham Brady is leading a move to give MPs more say on restrictions
Sir Graham Brady is leading a move to give MPs more say on restrictions
STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA

“It did surrender control to the government at a crucial time . . . Maybe the lockdown and its severe consequences . . . were inevitable or at least the best solution that could be devised in the circumstances,” she told