Boris Johnson ordered urgent peace talks with Conservative rebels on Monday as anger grows over new coronavirus restrictions and claims that ministers are springing new laws on the country “by decree”.
Mr Johnson attempted to head off a rebellion by more than 50 Tory MPs, as the government announced tougher restrictions in north-east England and introduced new laws for tackling the virus without any consultation.
The MPs want the House of Commons to have a say before new restrictions are introduced. Their concerns deepened on Monday as ministers continued to tighten Covid-19 rules.
Matt Hancock, health secretary, announced that 2m people in households in seven council areas of north-east England, including Newcastle and Sunderland, would be barred from mixing indoors and in homes.
The new restrictions, which come into force on Wednesday, mean the previous advice…