“I hope it was worth it to sit around the Cabinet table, because the damage they have done to our party is extraordinary.”
Fifty-three Conservatives opposed the tiering plan last December, the largest Covid-related rebellion to date.
Why, then, are certain lockdown sceptics so keen to play down the loss of older lives? Aside from these errors, I suspect motivated reasoning is at play.
The Government won the division during yesterday’s consideration of the Trade Bill by 18 votes.
This rebellion had little in common with most others, but the names of many who oppose the Government now show a certain predictability.
The tellers for the Noes were Christopher Chope and Chris Green. The last major Tory rebellion against Government Covid policy was 53 strong.
That’s the biggest Tory revolt so far on a virus-related division, and enough potentially to defeat the Government in future.
Growing anti-lockdown sentiment among northern Labour mayors and councils offer him new opportunities – and dangers.
These are early shots in the developing Tory backbench campaign against the restrictions, which are set to gain volume and velocity.
They can’t have been satisfied with the compromise reached yesterday over future votes on any changes to the Act’s provisions.
The Chairman of the 1922 Committee’s Executive is an enemy of rule by decree and a stern upholder of parliamentary scrutiny
The ’22 Executive has been pushing for a faster end to lockdown, and many Tory MPs agree. But they’re more likely to follow public opinion than lead it.
The political logic of the Prime Minister’s choice is solid enough. But we’re past the stage where his Sunday statement can simply be taken on trust.
Brady, Walker and Baker did their best to challenge the lockdown regulations, but Hancock preferred government by press conference.