Who are the rebel Tory MP factions that plan to oppose plan B Covid restrictions?

Government whips are braced for a major rebellion by Tory MPs over new plan B Covid restrictions due to come into force this week, against a backdrop of anger over rule-breaking Christmas parties. The restrictions are set to pass – but only thanks to support from Labour.

Ahead of the Commons votes on Tuesday on mask-wearing, working from home and Covid passports, these are the camps that are set to oppose at least some of the measures.

Hardliners

There are seven Tory MPs whose have become serial rebels on Covid restrictions, with their refusals to back the government stretching into double digits.

Though they have not opposed every measure since the pandemic began last spring, they have generally judged ministers to be imposing disproportionately tough curbs that are not based on evidence.

This hardline cadre of libertarians includes former cabinet minister Esther McVey and the chair of the 1922 Committee backbench group, Graham Brady. The latter wields particular influence among others in the party, and his standing up to Downing Street has helped embolden others to do the same.

Other notable senior MPs who have held firm against what they see as unnecessary restrictions are William Wragg, the chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, and Charles Walker, a member of two committees that look at House of Commons procedures and sign off restrictions for politicians, staffers and others who work in the Palace of Westminster.

Walker was so incensed about extending Covid regulations in March 2021 – a year after they had been in force – that he took to claiming he would carry around a pint of milk as a symbol of his protest. He said the milk could represent opposition to “the roaring back of a mental health demon brought on by lockdown”, “a loss of career or job or business” or “this country’s slide into authoritarianism”.

The hardliners are of a view that the country must learn to live with Covid and that a cycle of fresh restrictions whenever a new threat is thrown up by the pandemic is not a sustainable way to live, nor the right way to govern the country.

Vocal but tempered critics

Then there is a more sliding scale of around three dozen Conservative MPs who take different issue with Covid restrictions.

Some have raised concerns over the isolation policy for people identified as close contacts of a positive Covid case, citing the “pingdemic” last summer, while others have been more muted about domestic restrictions but feel strongly about barriers to international travel, whose efficacy has been questioned.

Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group, has been fairly agnostic on the recent reintroduction of compulsory masks in more settings, but much more vocal about the idea of vaccine passports.

Steve Baker, deputy chair of the same group, has said the Conservative party needs to be truer to its belief in the freedom of the individual, and accused ministers of a “creating a miserable dystopia”.

Another Tory MP – and a former health minister – Steve Brine, claimed the idea that ministers accepted the country would have to learn to live with Covid was “dead”.

This group of vocal but tempered critics of Covid restrictions were sometimes more accepting of measures, but have become increasingly determined to speak out against the government’s approach in the run-up to winter, fearful that plan B is a slippery slope towards lockdown and concerned that people will not be able to see family and friends over Christmas.

Newbie rebels

While many Conservative MPs have supported all Covid restrictions, the number who will rebel this week is set to rise considerably.

Previously fairly loyal and keen to keep No 10 happy and their ministerial hopes alive, some are preparing to rebel over plan B. Many are from the 2019 intake and include Lee Anderson, Matt Vickers and even Jill Mortimer – who was only elected in a byelection in Hartlepool seven months ago.

Others are more resolutely opposed to the idea of vaccine passports, though they have been watered down by the government to include proof of a recent negative test result to gain access to some venues. However this has still not won over many. Another new-intake MP, Alicia Kearns, said she “cannot justify introduction of Covid-19 passports just in case and without the data”.

Around six Tory MPs who act as ministerial aides are also known to be opposed to vaccine passports, and are either trying to get permission to miss the vote, given Labour’s support means it will definitely pass or, if not allowed, plan to abstain or vote against the plan – and be prepared to lose their job. Jacob Young, the new MP for the red wall seat of Redcar, is said to be among them.