PMQs RECAP: Boris Johnson faces grilling amid rebellion over Covid plans
The Prime Minister is under intense pressure after 100 backbenchers defied him on the issue which has come to define his premiership – the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The scale of the rebellion – the biggest suffered by Mr Johnson – came as a surprise to the Tory leadership and followed a personal appeal by the Prime Minister to his MPs at a meeting just an hour before the vote.
Nearly a third of his MPs voted against the introduction of mandatory Covid passes in nightclubs and large venues.
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PMQs LIVE: Boris Johnson faces grilling amid rebellion over Covid plans
Keir Starmer brands Boris Johnson as the “worst possible PM at worst possible time”
“The British public are looking for a PM with the trust and the authority to lead Britain through this crisis, instead we have the worst possible Prime Minister at the worst possible time,”
Sir Keir Starmer says Boris Johnson claims the PM didn’t know what was happening in his own house at Christmas and he, his own MPs and members of the public don’t believe him. He says “the PM is taking the public for fools and it’s becoming dangerous.”
Boris Johnson confirms MPs will get a vote on future Covid restrictions “If further regulation is needed of course this House will have a further say”.
Boris Johnson says Labour we would not have had the vaccine rollout, because Labour would have remained in the EMA.
Sir Keir Starmer urges Boris Johnson to get his house in order saying that the Labour Party voted through measures to keep members of the public safe and keep the NHS safe. He asks the PM to acknowledge rebels voted against measures to keep country safe. Boris Johnson says Parliament decided to back Plan B with “Conservative votes”
Sir Keir Starmer echoes Boris Johnson’s Christmas message and sends his congratulations the PM on the birth of his daughter.
He urges everyone to get boosters to stop the Omicron variant and adds “If further votes needed to protect lives. Labour MPs will follow my leadership and vote to save lives and protect the NHS. Can I ask the PM to put his House in order so he can do the same?”
And just like that the gloves are off.
Labour’s Nick Smith congratulates the PM on the birth of his child and asks “last week was crime week, was it successful?”
Queue laughter across the Commons.