Boris Johnson was last night warned against imposing even more stringent coronavirus curbs ahead of a Commons showdown tomorrow.
More than 60 Tory backbenchers are poised to oppose the Plan B measures to counter the threat of the Omicron variant – the biggest rebellion of Mr Johnson’s premiership.
The restrictions will see proof of vaccination or a negative test become mandatory for large venues this week, and today the return of work from home guidance.
The Prime Minister will avoid an embarrassing defeat with the measures set to be voted through thanks to backing from Labour, but Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, and Maggie Throup, the Vaccines Minister, are said to have been scrambling to limit a rebellion that could involve dozens of Conservatives.
It comes as several Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) are threatening resignation, with the Telegraph reporting that a group of 10 parliamentary secretaries formed a WhatsApp group to discuss how to vote on the new measures.
MPs in the PPS group include two of Communities Secretary Michael Gove’s three ministerial aides – Danny Kruger and Angela Richardson – along with two of the three ministerial aides to Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab – Joy Morrissey and Mike Wood.
Many MPs are fearful the Prime Minister may impose even stricter curbs before Christmas, but officials are already drawing up a Plan C which would see the return of ‘checking in’ to a pub or restaurant, using masks in all indoor spaces and having to show a vaccine status at even more venues.
Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said last night he believed Plan B was a ‘stepping stone’ into another lockdown – and accused ministers of moving ‘without the facts’ on Omicron.
He branded the proposals ‘unnecessary’ and ‘damaging’ and said further restrictions would ‘only amplify those effects’, adding it ‘feels like’ a lockdown by stealth.
Conservative Peter Bone told the Daily Mail vaccine passports ‘are nothing more than an identity card’ and do not work.
‘Testing is the way if you want to stop people (spreading Covid).’
‘The problem is we are halfway between two things: the Government has done a bit by what they call Plan B – but in a way Plan B is a stepping stone to a lockdown. We cannot lockdown again. Schools cannot shut,’ he said.
Backbencher Henry Smith said Plan B was a ‘danger to our civil liberties’ which would ‘severely impact’ economic recovery prospects. He added: ‘I think it is yet further distraction from other health conditions which require attention – such as the cancer backlog – and I don’t actually think (the restrictions) work.’
He branded the proposals ‘unnecessary’ and ‘damaging’ and said further restrictions would ‘only amplify those effects’, adding it ‘feels like’ a lockdown by stealth.
Conservative Peter Bone told the Daily Mail vaccine passports ‘are nothing more than an identity card’ and do not work.
‘Testing is the way if you want to stop people (spreading Covid).’
Source: Daily Mail