ILKLEY'S MP Robbie Moore rebelled against the government's Covid-19 tier restrictions saying he could not look independent businesses in the eye if he voted to close them down without additional financial support.

Despite the largest Tory rebellion of this parliament the Commons backed the Prime Minister's new measures meaning Ilkley entered the toughest Tier 3 level of restrictions on Wednesday.

Residents remain unable to mix indoors with those from other households and hospitality settings, such as bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants are only able to offer takeaway and delivery services. Indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close.

MPs backed the curbs by 291 votes to 78 - a Government majority of 213 - on Tuesday evening. But 55 Conservatives rebelled - including Mr Moore and Shipley MP Philip Davies, whose constituency includes Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

Explaining his decision to vote against the government Mr Moore said: "I am not against the need for restrictions and I do believe that a tiered, local approach is the right way forward. However, if the government is forcing many of our businesses to close their doors, adequate financial support must be provided.

"Speaking to businesses across Keighley and Ilkley, the situation is desperate. We have been living under increased restrictions since the end of July which have absolutely battered our hospitality industry. Of course, many other sectors have also been extremely hard it.

"The new tiered restrictions are not exactly the same as they were previously - they are strengthened. I of course realise that financial support can be no substitute for being open, but if the government is now forcing many of our local businesses to close their doors for many months to come, much more adequate financial support must be provided to see them through winter. Without it, many will simply close their doors for good.

"I am determined to back our many local, independent businesses right across Keighley, Ilkley, Silsden, the Worth Valley and the wider constituency and be their voice. I therefore do not believe that I can in all good conscience look business owners in the eye and vote to close them down without that additional financial support. As such, it is with great regret, that I will vote against the government."

Rebel leader Mark Harper, a Conservative former chief whip, said "we very much regret" that "so many of us felt forced to vote against the measures" during a national crisis, adding "we must find a way to ... end this devastating cycle of repeated restrictions".

A Government spokesman welcomed the Commons' backing, which the House of Lords later approved, but said ministers would "continue to work with MPs who have expressed concerns in recent days".

The scale of the revolt was a significant increase on the 34 Tories who rebelled against the second lockdown during a vote last month and the 44 who defied the Government on the 10pm hospitality curfew.

A further 16 Conservative MPs did not have a vote recorded for them on Tuesday. While some will be abstentions, others may have had valid reasons for being unable to vote.

Former Cabinet ministers Damian Green, David Davis and Jeremy Wright were among the Tories to vote against the Government, as did Conservative former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

Fifteen Labour MPs also defied party orders and voted against the regulations, including allies of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who also voted against the measures as an independent.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister announced a one-off payment of £1,000 for pubs forced to remain closed under the restrictions in an attempt to reduce the scale of the revolt, though the move was branded "derisory" by the trade.

And he acknowledged concerns of a perceived "injustice" in the allocation of tiers but reassured MPs the Government would consider a more focused approach in the future.

The tiers will be reviewed every fortnight and Mr Johnson promised MPs a fresh vote on whether to keep the system before February 2.