Tory rebels demanding vote on curbs say they can defeat Boris

BORIS Johnson is facing a potential Commons defeat next week as rebel Tories demand a vote on further lockdown measures.

Forty Tory MPs last night backed an amendment put forward by grandee Sir Graham Brady, which would force the Government to get Parliament’s backing for any more restrictions.

Signatories include ex-ministers David Davis, Damian Green, Julian Lewis, Esther McVey, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Sir John Redwood.

More Tories were expected to sign up in the coming days, threatening to overturn the PM’s 80-strong majority. At least one minister is said to be considering quitting unless the Government backs down.

The amendment also has the backing of senior Labour figures, including former deputy leader Harriet Harman. No10 is resisting the move and says the current system enables them to respond rapidly.

The PM has said he would allow MPs more time to debate restrictions and give them opportunities to quiz Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

But Sir Graham, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said this would not be enough. ‘The Government seem to think that more scrutiny means holding a couple of debates. I take the view that if you are going to deprive people of their freedoms and livelihoods you ought first to gain approval from the House of Commons,’ he said.

Ex-minister Steve Baker said he was ‘100 per cent certain’ there were enough Tory rebels to defeat the Government, provided opposition parties back the plan.

Downing Street yesterday insisted MPs already have the power to vote down measures 28 days after they are brought in.

The PM’s official spokesman said it was ‘important we can move quickly’ to introduce measures like local lockdowns.

The move reflects disquiet on Tory benches at the evidence used to justify a return to working-from-home announced by Mr Johnson on Tuesday, as well as the 10pm pub and restaurant curfew.

With Labour supporting all of the lockdown measures, Tory rebels do not expect to be able to block future restrictions.

But they believe that forcing ministers to come to Parliament to make the case for them will make them think twice before imposing even more draconian restrictions.

Some lockdown sceptics believe the PM would hesitate to act if he knew he was going to have to rely on Labour votes to get his strategy through.