Sunday shows round-up: EU commissioner threatens to block vaccine exports

Steve Baker – Coronavirus Act is ‘excessive and disproportionate’

This week, before Parliament breaks up for the Easter recess, the government will seek to extend the Coronavirus Act by a further six months. The act, which was first passed almost exactly one year ago, has been met with serious discontent by many Conservative backbenchers, who argue that the curbs it has imposed on civil liberties are unacceptable. Steve Baker, the deputy chair of the Covid Recovery Group, told Sophy Ridge why he would be voting against extending the Act:

SB: I think it’s excessive and disproportionate, and the government itself now isn’t using its powers… I think the Coronavirus Act should now go… The government does need to start taking advantage of their own success in the vaccination programme.