UK Conservative MPs revolt against Johnson over COVID curbs

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has received a stinging blow after Conservative lawmakers voted against his new coronavirus restrictions.

According to Press TV, Johnson faced the largest ever rebellion against his authority on Tuesday after 97 members of his own party rejected his proposed COVID measures.

The revolting Tories defied the party line and voted against the new rule requiring COVID passes for entry to venues such as clubs and sports stadiums.

The evening vote in the House of Commons was the largest backlash Johnson has faced from within his own ranks, putting him under further pressure after a string of recent scandals.

Many MPs from Johnson's own party believe the new restrictions are excessive and undermine basic freedoms.

Tory MPs opposed to the new restrictions say the administration is imposing "disproportionate" curbs based on incomplete evidence that will invariably lead to further measures.

One Tory lawmaker compared the government's introduction of mandatory health passes in certain settings to restrictive measures enforced in Nazi Germany.

However, the new COVID curbs still gained the majority needed and were passed by the MPs as a whole. Tory MPs have an 80-seat majority in the 650-seat House of Commons.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs, told British media that a leadership challenge in 2022 had "got to be on the cards."

Johnson, whose popularity has been dropping in opinion polls, has faced open calls to quit because of reports that he and staff broke coronavirus rules at Downing Street last Christmas.

ME