MALVERN’S MP has been explaining her reasons for potentially voting against her own government this week in a crucial coronavirus vote.

Political commentators are forecasting that if an amendment for MPs to have a say on changes to lockdown rules is selected for a vote, Harriett Baldwin will be one of 40 Conservative rebels.

If that is the number, and the opposition parties all voted against, it would be enough to overturn Boris Johnson’s majority and see a defeat for the government.

The Coronavirus Act gave the government powers to respond to the pandemic and are now trying to renew these powers.

Sir Graham Brady has tabled the amendment that would give parliament a say over new national restrictions, before they are brought into force.

The West Worcestershire MP said it was a “point of principal” parliament should now be involved.

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“We should not allow the executive to take away our constituents’ freedoms without a really thorough debate and vote, unless there is an absolutely overwhelming barrier to doing so such as war or plague,” the MP said.

“Over the course of the last six months we have had to adapt to swiftly changing circumstances in every bit of our lives, but unlike at the beginning of the outbreak when parliament could not operate in a socially distant way, we have now adapted and can vote and speak remotely.

“We don’t yet know if the amendment will go to a vote but I have offered my support to this measure to make sure that parliament gets the chance to scrutinise and agree to steps which are having a wide-ranging impact on our lives and livelihoods.”

Worcester MP Robin Walker, and Mid Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston were not available to comment.