Rebellion grows over Covid measures

[-:Undertaker:-]

Same as your banging on about how lockdowns cause you so much anxiety.

Whatever.

Anyway, let's see by what margin the backbenchers rebel tomorrow.

Great to see Steve Baker MP (below) co-ordinating efforts against the government. Many may remember him as the main strategist behind the moves to force David Cameron into holding a referendum on the EU, and later for his efforts in spearheading the ERG against the May government over the votes in Parliament on her deal. I'd like to think if the PM loses this Thursday's by-election we could engineer a leadership coup against him, but I don't think we're quite there yet.

🙏A HUGE thank you to everyone who has expressed support today - it means so much

🗽I am encouraging Conservative Party members and the wider public to support #CWF (@ConWayFor) as we seek to create a new movement for freedom:

👉https://t.co/PuTnwc1u0vpic.twitter.com/JEcUZ4EqwF

— Rt Hon Steve Baker MP FRSA 🗽 (@SteveBakerFRSA) December 12, 2021

[-:Undertaker:-]

Rebellion against the government even bigger than expected on vaccine passports. PM had to rely on Labour to pass measures.

Our side must now work on undermining the PM over the next couple of months with the intent of throwing him out by the Easter/early summer. Only once this PM is removed from office, along with the likes of Gove in the Cabinet who are pushing lockdown measures, will we get out of this endless cycle of self-inflicted misery.

Senior Tory MP reacting to news 103 Tories voted against: ‘****’

— Anna Mikhailova (@AVMikhailova) December 14, 2021

Tally of Tory rebels officially now 99
- far worse than expected for PM
- even followed his own personal appeal to backbenches at '22 meeting earlier
- depth of anger among backbenches but also another misjudgement of mood by No 10

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) December 14, 2021

NEW: govt tells me 100 rebels
Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown just told me on @skynews a leadership challenge ‘on the cards’ next year if the PM doesn’t change his ways

— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) December 14, 2021

COVID will be with us for many years to come, and it's unthinkable that every autumn from now on, we will be limiting the quality of life for all citizens ‘just to be on the safe side.’

This is a slippery slope down which I don't want to slip. I'm not supporting these measures. pic.twitter.com/wpzCJkmyjh

— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) December 14, 2021

[-:Undertaker:-]

A list of Labour rebels and Greens who voted with us tonight to oppose this madness.

It took 117 MPs to bring down Theresa May, we already have the numbers to topple him if he persists with this line of policy. Politically this will now make it almost impossible for the government to extend measures further (as in a full lockdown) as to do so would risk an even bigger rebellion and a leadership challenge. A great victory tonight for those of us on the anti-hysteria and pro-freedom side imo.

Vote on mandatory Covid passes won 369 to 126 but big Tory rebellion. Not v. comfortable sharing voting lobby with rebels, but my reasons for voting against mandatory passes are clear: they undermine trust & risk entrenching opposition. Vax should be done with community not to it

— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) December 14, 2021

Full marks to the eight Labour MPs who voted against covid passes this evening:

🌹 Diane Abbott
🌹 Apsana Begum
🌹 Dawn Butler
🌹 Emma Lewell-Buck
🌹 Clive Lewis
🌹 Rebecca Long Bailey
🌹 Bell Ribeiro-Addy
🌹 Graham Stringer

Plus Jeremy Corbyn (independent).

— Paul Embery (@PaulEmbery) December 14, 2021

The Tory rebellion shows that Boris Johnson or any alternative PM will struggle to impose another lockdown and remain in their job – excellent snap analysis by @stephenkb of the vote. https://t.co/lm2R7WbH0B

— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) December 14, 2021