24 Tory rebels rail against new Covid-19 rules

BORIS Johnson has suffered another backbench rebellion over his Covid-19 strategy, as 24 Tory MPs opposed regulations linked to house party fines and Test and Trace data sharing.

The regulations were approved by 526 votes to 24, majority 502, during a vote on Wednesday.

The measures, which increased house party fines from £200 to £800, came into force last month but required retrospective approval by Parliament.

They were introduced as part of a crackdown on illegal gatherings and those flouting the legal requirement to self-isolate during the pandemic.

The house party penalty applies to groups of more than 15 people and double after each offence, up to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offenders.

An individual’s £800 fine is cut to £400 if paid within 14 days.

The 24 Conservative MPs who opposed the regulations were: Adam Afriyie (Windsor), Steve Baker (Wycombe), Bob Blackman (Harrow East), Peter Bone (Wellingborough), Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West), Philip Davies (Shipley), David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden), Richard Drax (South Dorset), Marcus Fysh (Yeovil), Chris Green (Bolton West), Mark Harper (Forest of Dean), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), David Jones (Clwyd West), Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire), Craig Mackinlay (South Thanet), Karl McCartney (Lincoln), Esther McVey (Tatton), Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot), Andrew Rosindell (Romford), Henry Smith (Crawley), Julian Sturdy (York Outer), Desmond Swayne (New Forest West), Charles Walker (Broxbourne), William Wragg (Hazel Grove).