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Hello and welcome to Coffee House Shots, the Spectator's Daily Politics podcast.

I'm Cindy Yu, and I'm joined by Katie Balls and James Forsyth. Today, MPs meet in

Parliament to talk about the Coronavirus Act in order to renew these emergency powers for the

government. Katie, can you tell us about how the debate's been going? It's a fairly heated debate

that's taking place in the Commons right now. Matt Hancock has been fielding questions from MPs

in terms of opposition, we know that

Labour will be supporting the measures, but it still is an easy ride for the House Secretary. There

are plenty of MPs in his own party, really uncomfortable with the fact these powers are being

extended for a whole six months, asking if that's really necessary. Some are saying, such as Steve

Brian, they are going to vote for it, but they're not doing so with a smile.

They have many concerns about this.

And others, I think Desmond Swain, Charles Walker making very fiery speeches ultimately against the government.

And then in terms of opposition outside of the Tory party, you have the Liberal Democrats who are now opposing it.

Ed Davey accusing the government of a power grab. I think, suppose on backbench unrest, now,

anything too near a result ultimately don't make too much a prediction, but we are expecting

a Tory rebellion today. Clearly not anything the government has to worry about too much because

it will have the numbers. But I do think when press, there was an issue in sense that Matt Hancock

would say that he couldn't guarantee this would be the last time these powers would be renewed.

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