View all newsletters
Sign up to our newsletters

Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Politics
  2. Conservatives
14 December 2021

The Tory rebellion over new Covid measures shows how weak Boris Johnson has become

Today’s vote will mark a decisive split between the government and MPs on Covid-19.

By Ailbhe Rea

Boris Johnson is likely to face a backbench rebellion larger than his parliamentary majority when the House of Commons votes on new measures to tackle the Omicron variant of coronavirus later today.

Conservative MPs – an estimated 70 but possibly as many as 80 – from across the party are poised to vote against the government over the introduction of a “Covid pass”, a new requirement in England to provide proof of either double vaccination or a negative coronavirus test before entry to a nightclub, an indoor event of 500 or an outdoor event of 4,000. 

Many Conservative MPs are worried about the “slow creep” of ever more draconian restrictions to protect against coronavirus, but the “vaccine passport” plan, even with negative Covid tests permitted, is the real sting. For many Tory MPs, the measure defies belief in allowing individuals to make the best decisions about their health and the health of others, representing what they see as an intrusion into the everyday life of citizens that is unjustified by evidence. 

And it is on the question of evidence for vaccine passports that Conservative rebels find common cause, quite unexpectedly, with the Liberal Democrats, who oppose the plan because requiring proof of double vaccination hasn’t proven as effective at curtailing coronavirus outbreaks as requiring negative lateral flow tests at mass gatherings. 

The reason the Tory rebellion is so big is precisely because it comes at no cost. With Labour support for the new measures guaranteed, they will inevitably pass, allowing Conservative MPs to signal their practical and ideological opposition to Covid passes without preventing the government from acting. 

The rebellion today is a perfect storm of longstanding resistance to the government’s approach to coronavirus, combined with a new collapse of confidence from backbenchers in the direction set by Downing Street. It doesn’t matter in the immediate term but it does in the longer term. The vote today marks a decisive break between the Conservative parliamentary party and the government on coronavirus, just as a new variant takes hold, and a new low for Boris Johnson as his grip on his party becomes weaker and weaker.

[See also: We all know what Boris Johnson’s emergency address was really about – and it wasn’t Covid boosters]

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The promise of prevention
How Labour hopes to make the UK a leader in green energy
Is now the time to rethink health and care for older people? With Age UK

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU