LEIGH MP James Grundy voted in favour of the government's coronavirus Tier restrictions last night, while Bolton West and Atherton's Chris Green voted against.

Last night's vote saw MPs approve the COVID-19 regulations that implement three tiers of restrictions in England from Wednesday by 291 votes to 78, majority 213.

In a statement ahead of the vote, Mr Grundy said: "As many of you know, I rebelled against the last vote imposing a full national lockdown, as I felt that the measures were too harsh and damaging and would not end the crisis. Given the crisis has not ended, and we are entering a period of harsher tiered restrictions, I feel I was proven right in not supporting those measures.

"I will however, with great reservation, be supporting the government tonight, and only on balance, after giving the subject a great deal of consideration.

"The Tier system does set out a clear pathway for the country to exit all lockdown measures as a vaccine is rolled out, whilst keeping the vast majority of the economy open, unlike the near total lockdown we are just about to exit. I am dissatisfied with the additional support put in place for hospitality, and feel more needs to be done, but with Labour abstaining on the vote tonight there is no prospect of change on this issue at this time.

"I am pleased the government has given ground on a range of issues, allowing churches, gyms, hairdressers salons and others to reopen under all tiers. I shall continue to press for further concessions and the dismantling of all restrictions as vaccine roll out makes those restrictions redundant.

"It is now vital the Government solidifies the detail of the path back to normality to ensure public trust. I also hope that given the falling rates of infection locally, Wigan Borough, which includes my constituency of Leigh, will be able to enter tier 2 restrictions when the next review of measures takes place in two weeks time."

Chris Green, MP for Bolton West and Atherton, an outspoken critic of the government's coronavirus strategy, was one of 53 Conservative MPs who voted against the restrictions.

Before the vote, he said: "This system hasn't work so far and I don't believe its going to work in the future.

"I am shocked and quite surprised in many ways that the Labour party don't know enough to be able to support or oppose the Governments position."

Last night's vote saw MPs approve the COVID-19 regulations that implement three tiers of restrictions in England from Wednesday by 291 votes to 78, majority 213.

The new arrangements have come into force today (December 2), putting 99 per cent of England in the toughest Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions, with Leigh and the rest of Greater Manchester facing the highest level of restrictions.