Advertisement

Boris Johnson faces ‘certain’ defeat in vote on imposing Covid restrictions, as cross-part revolt grows

Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street (Reuters)
Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street (Reuters)

Boris Johnson is facing “certain” defeat in a vote that will prevent him imposing fresh Covid-19 restrictions behind the backs of MPs, after Opposition parties joined a Tory revolt.

The prime minister is expected to be forced into another U-turn, as cross-party pressure grows to rip up draconian emergency laws which, one Conservative rebel said, mean “liberty dies”.

Up to 60 Tory MPs are now backing the move and the scales tipped against the government when Labour and the Liberal Democrats said they were poised to do the same.

John Bercow, the former Commons Speaker, weighed in, saying continuing to bypass MPs in the handling of the pandemic was part of a “toolkit of Trumpianism”.

Demanding “accountability to Parliament, Mr Bercow said: “Ducking, diving, dodging scrutiny, of which there has been some evidence in recent times, cannot continue."

Asked if he had the numbers to defeat the government – with Opposition support – Steve Baker, a leading rebel, replied: “I’m certain at the moment.”

Around 50 law changes are believed to have been made under the emergency laws, rushed through at the start of the pandemic in March, which are up for renewal on Wednesday.

“MPs should be sharing in the dreadful burden of decision in these circumstances and not just retrospectively being asked to approve what the government has done,” Mr Baker told Sky News.

“How do people think that liberty dies? It dies like this, with government exercising draconian powers, without parliamentary scrutiny in advance, undermining the rule of law by having a shifting blanket of rules that no-one can understand.”

Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, attempted to hold the line, saying it was vital that ministers had the power to “move quickly” in bringing necessary coronavirus rules.

He confirmed a vote on the introduction of the ‘Rule of 6’ would be rushed forward to this week to try to calm the revolt – but that falls far short of the rebels’ demands.

The crucial amendment has been put forward by Graham Brady, the chairman of the Tory 1922 Committee, and enjoys prominent backers.

They include former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, Damian Green, effectively deputy Theresa May’s deputy, former Brexit secretary David Davis and Harriet Harman, Labour’s former deputy leader.

If all the Opposition parties support the rebel amendment – the SNP is also expected to – only 43 Tories would be needed to defeat the government.

Labour, which has supported all crackdowns introduced so far, could then sue votes to exploit divisions on the Tory benches, where opposition to restrictions is growing.

Mr Baker said they did not “really want a rebellion”, preferring to work with the government to reach agreement without embarrassing ministers.

“Let’s have policies that enjoy our consent, he said, adding: “I back Boris Johnson, I want him to succeed.”

The threat comes as a new poll showed Labour has overtaken the Tories for the first time since Keir Starmer became leader in April, with a three-point lead.

Read more

Coronavirus: ‘Extraordinary’ flaw leaves NHS app unable to process tens of thousands of test results

Boris Johnson ‘asks former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre to chair Ofcom’

Labour ahead of Tories in polls for first time since Johnson became PM

If Boris Johnson really plans to ‘level up’ the country, why won’t he explain how he will do it?

Johnson and Sunak are the latest combatants in the long history of tension between PMs and chancellors