Over 50 Tory MPs rebel against Boris Johnson as Commons approves new Covid tier restrictions

Tory backbenchers angered at government approach

Boris Johnson has suffered perhaps his biggest rebellion yet in the House of Commons after 55 of his own MPs defied his move to bring in a new coronavirus tier system.

The prime minister’s new tier system passed by 291 votes to 78 but not without dozens of Conservatives speaking and voting against the PM’s plan for tight restrictions going into December and the New Year.

Despite the rebellion and Labour’s abstention, the government had a majority of 213 in the vote – putting it far from a defeat.

But the growing disquiet on Tory benches is embarrassing for the prime minister, who has been unable to bring large parts of his party with him.

The new regulations will see the vast majority of England going straight into tier two or tier three from 2 December when the current lockdown ends.

But the prime minster has hinted that some areas of the country could have their restrictions downgraded if they are successful in stemming the virus.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said his party was abstaining because while it supported regulations, it did not believe the government’s plan would work.

Sir Keir argued that the PM had wasted the lockdown, during which he said the government should have been improving its test, trace, and isolate system.

But Conservative rebels had their own criticisms.  Graham Brady, chairman of the influential backbench 1922 Committee and an MP in tier 3 Greater Manchester, said: "If Government is to take away fundamental liberties of the people whom we represent, they must demonstrate beyond question that they're acting in a way that is both proportionate and absolutely necessary. Today, I believe the Government has failed to make that compelling case."

Former Cabinet minister Damian Green, an MP in Kent, which is also in the highest tier, added: "I've had the most angry emails over a weekend since the Dominic Cummings trip to Barnard Castle."

Andrea Leadsom, another ex-Cabinet minister, said she would not "inflict deliberate harm on my constituency unless I can see for myself that to do nothing would be worse", while Former Brexit secretary David Davis meanwhile said a "policy of maximum protection for minimum damage" was needed and "this policy is not it".

Around 20 Labour MPs also broke Sir Keir's whip to abstain in the vote. Former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who does not currently have the whip but is still a member of the party, said: "I voted against the Government's proposals tonight. I don't believe the measures are what is needed to drive down the levels of the virus. The financial support packages being offered are inadequate, inconsistent and unfair to many areas."