The first Covid rebellion 30 September 2020 The first signs of who would be the leaders of the anti-lockdown rebels in parliament began at the vote for the renewal of the Coronavirus Act 2020. Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, had put forward an amendment to give MPs more scrutiny powers that was eventually agreed in a deal with ministers. This set the precedent that there would be a vote on “significant national measures with effect in the whole of England or UK-wide”. Rebellion grows over curfews and fines 13 October 2020 Although about a dozen MPs rebelled over the rule of six a week previously, it was a new 10pm curfew and additional fines that prompted the biggest Covid rebellion yet as 42 MPs organised a symbolic vote against one of six restrictions that the Commons voted on. Labour formally abstained, but there were also 23 Labour rebels. Chris Green resigned from his junior government role in protest at the new localised restrictions in his Bolton constituency, saying: “I believe that the cure is worse than the disease.” The Rashford rebellion 21 October 2020 Far smaller in number but more consequential for Boris Johnson’s reputation. After a damaging row and U-turn over the summer, five Conservative MPs voted with Labour on extending free school meals after another compelling campaign by the footballer Marcus Rashford. Those who did not rebel found themselves in the middle of another social media storm and another eventual U-turn by No 10 – leading to widespread anger at the ineptitude of Johnson’s response. Widespread Tory rebellion over plans for tier restrictions 1 December 2020 Johnson suffered his biggest rebellion of his premiership when 55 MPs voted against a new Covid-19 tier system for England and another 16 abstained. The prime minister stood by the voting lobbies and personally pleaded with MPs to back him, but ultimately he was forced to rely on Labour’s abstention to avoid defeat on a tightened system of measures that put 99% of England in the strictest tiers. Rebels revived over delay to restrictions ending 16 June 2021 There was some Tory resistance to measures in 2021, but given the progress of the vaccine programme, there was little difficulty in parliament until Johnson made the call to delay the final stage of the roadmap on lifting restrictions. Several Conservative MPs joined the rebel ranks at the vote – in which 49 Tories rebelled – saying they were particularly incensed by the uncertainty around gatherings like weddings. It was the second biggest rebellion on Covid. Treasury sees off international aid rebels 13 July 2021 Tory opponents of the cut to international aid were confident they could band together with Labour and defeat the government. But in the end, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, sprang a surprise vote, leaving them with little time to organise, and a concerted effort by No 10 meant many MPs were persuaded that the cut to 0.5% of GDP would be temporary. Still, there were a significant number of high-profile rebels, including Theresa May, who voted against her party for the first time in a 24-year career as an MP. Plan B restrictions introduced to combat Omicron 14 December 2021 Tuesday’s vote is likely to register the biggest revolt of Johnson’s premiership and leave him again reliant on Labour votes to pass the measures to increase mask-wearing and the use of Covid passports to enter mass events. There are more than 70 declared Tory rebels, which would mean about one in three Conservative MPs are voting against the government – once you discount those on the government “payroll vote”, which includes ministers, whips and parliamentary private secretaries.