Boris Johnson faces blue wall of opposition to stop London being plunged into Tier 3 Covid restrictions tomorrow

BORIS Johnson is facing down a blue wall of opposition against London going into Tier 3 when lockdown ends.

The PM has come up against multiple members of his own party as they fear the capital could go into the harshest restrictions next week.

It will be revealed which area is under which tier tomorrow, but many MPs have already slammed the idea of London going into Tier 3.

Before the second national lockdown it was in Tier 2, which saw Londoners unable to mix indoors with other households.

MPs against Tier 3 imposed on the capital are demanding the Government publish a full analysis with the criteria and thresholds used to decide on the tiers.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, told the Standard: “This looks like a political gesture to placate other areas.

“There is no reason to be moved from 2 to 3, and they should now publish the cost/benefit analysis on such action.”

Infection rates are going down throughout London, with more than half of the boroughs seeing falls in confirmed cases in data up to November 19.

Many spots in central London are also seeing infection rates nearer that of previous criteria for Tier 1.

Nickie Aiken, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said: “I would be extremely disappointed if London is put into Tier 3.  

‘NO REASON’

“The near Herculean efforts many restaurants, cafes, casinos and cafes etc have put in place to make their premises Covid secure should be recognised.  

“I have seen no data to date to provide the evidence that the capital should enter Tier 3 rather than 2.”

The tier system, which the country was in before lockdown is due to be beefed up, making the restrictions even harsher.

They will form the basis of the “Winter Plan”, expected to be in place until around Easter.

Mr Johnson has said the allocation is based on “common sense” with a number of metrics used to decide how strongly to restrict areas.

These include case detection rates in the over 60s, the rate at which cases are falling or rising, pressure on the NHS and case detection rates in all age groups.

The number of positive cases found in a percentage of tests taken in certain areas will also come into consideration.

Mitcham and Morden Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh slammed the idea of Tier 3, saying: “It makes absolutely no sense, our hospitals are performing really well.”  

And Ilford North Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “We are not out of the woods yet, but there are signs that the hard work of Londoners is paying off. That would seem to point to Tier 2 restrictions for London.”

MPs have demanded the capital should be in Tier 1 in a desperate bid to help the economy recover after losing billions since the first lockdown in March.

Hospitality bosses have warned three quarters of pubs, restaurants and cafes could go bust if the city isn’t placed into the lowest tier from December 3.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said earlier he expected the capital would be in Tier 2, and has spoken out against being shoved into Tier 3.

The latest data shows infection rates in the worst-hit London boroughs – Havering, Redbrige and Ealing – are still outside the top 100 table.

Department of Health statistics show the seven-day average in the capital is down to 197.2 per 100,000 residents – while the national average is 234.

Chairman of the highly influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, called for more clarity on further Covid rules and said he may not back them in a Commons vote next week.

Tier 3 means restaurants and pubs have to close except for deliveries and click and collect, and indoor entertainment venues like cinemas, casinos and indoor play areas have to shut too.

But they will get access to mass testing using quick result kits to try and help lower them into Tier 2.

Mr Johnson admitted that “many more regions will fall – at least temporarily – into higher tiers than before” meaning more Brits face being unable to see friends and family inside until around Easter too as household mixing is banned in Tiers 2 and 3.