Boris Johnson’s new tiers were signed off by a margin of 291 to 78 and will come into force tomorrow after Labor opted to abstain, despite complaining the regime was not tough enough and there was not enough support for hospitality firms.
Although the headline 213 majority was healthy, there were 55 Conservative rebels (including Sir Graham Brady, pictured bottom right) – plus Julian Lewis, who is currently suspended.
That made it easily the biggest mutiny of this Parliament after 44 previously went against the pub’s curfew. Another 17 appear to have abstained, although it is not clear how many were given permission to stay away.
Sir Keir Starmer also suffered his own revolt, with 15 defying the whip, alongside the suspended Jeremy Corbyn and eight DUP politicians.
Dozens of Mr. Johnson’s own side went through the Noe lobby even though he stood there in person cajoling them to support the government.
The premier (pictured left in the chamber) spent the day desperately trying to peel off opponents, hinting that many low-infection areas could be brought out of the toughest tiers at the next review on December 16.
He also offered a ‘one-off’ payment of £1,000 to ‘wet’ pubs – that do not serve food – this month.
Winding up the debate, Health Secretary Matt Hancock choked back tears as he referred to the death of his step-grandfather from Covid in Liverpool last month.
