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Defy Tory lockdown rebels and expect 'certain' defeat, Boris Johnson warned

Editorial use only. MANDATORY CREDIT: UK PARLIAMENT HANDOUT /NO SALES Mandatory Credit: Photo by JESSICA TAYLOR/UK PARLIAMENT HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10786940b) A handout picture made available by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during Prime Minister's questions in the House of Commons in London, Britain, 23 September 2020. PMQs at the House of Commons in London, United Kingdom - 23 Sep 2020 - JESSICA TAYLOR/UK PARLIAMENT HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Boris Johnson has been warned to expect “certain” defeat this week if he defies Tory rebels demanding a say on new lockdown powers, amid growing signs of a Government climbdown.

More than 50 Tory MPs have now publicly backed a demand to put national coronavirus measures to a vote in Parliament, with rebel leaders confident that as many as 100 are on board.

Labour has signalled for the first time that it will vote for an amendment to the Coronavirus Act tabled by Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers, with the LibDems and SNP also hinting they will back it.

In a sign that Mr Johnson has all but given up winning the fight with the rebels, Conservative whips have put “no pressure at all” on the rebels to fall into line. Several whips are said to be “sympathetic” to their argument.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, wrote to Tory MPs urging them not to back the Brady amendment, but the move appeared to have backfired by serving only to harden the rebels’ stance.

MPs will spend an entire day debating the Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic before a crunch vote on Wednesday which will decide whether or not the Coronavirus Act is renewed after its six-month expiry date.

Sir Graham’s amendment to the Act proposes that future restrictions proposed under the Act should be debated and voted on by Parliament if they affect the whole of England or the whole of the UK, rather than ministers being able to bypass the Commons as is currently the case.

Its backers include Johnson loyalists such as Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, and the size of the rebellion reflects a growing disgruntlement among Conservative MPs at Mr Johnson’s handling of the pandemic, and in particular the economic damage caused by lockdown measures.

Steve Baker, a former Brexit minister who is helping to organise the revolt, said he was “certain” the amendment will pass if it is selected by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, “but we would prefer to avoid this coming to a division."

“I back Boris Johnson, I want him to succeed, but we do need to share with the Government the burden of these measures and not just come in days or weeks later, retrospectively voting on these measures which have been subsequently amended.

“How do people think 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.”

In his letter to Tory MPs, Mr Hancock said the Act was “absolutely necessary” to enable the Government to “mount an effective response” to the pandemic.

Mr Baker said: “His letter misses the mark. MPs are trying to help him by sharing the dreadful burden of decisions.”

Rebel Tory MPs believe Downing Street is still hoping the amendment will not be selected by the Speaker, but that if it is, the Government will immediately accept its terms rather than risking a hugely damaging defeat.

One senior Tory said: “The whips have not been contacting people at all. A lot of them are sympathetic to what we are trying to do, and they have been putting no pressure at all on us to back down.”

David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, said: “Any Tory Government that ignores an amendment tabled by the chairman of the 1922 Committee is off its rocker.”

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, also said it was “almost certain” his party would vote for the amendment.

Jo Stevens, Labour’s shadow culture secretary, said the “likelihood is that we would back [the Brady amendment].”