Boris Johnson experiences his biggest Tory rebellion over Plan B - what other rebellions has he faced?

(Kirsty O’Connor/PA)

(Picture: PA Wire)

Boris Johnson received the biggest backbench rebellion of his premiership on Tuesday evening as MPs voted on new Covid measures.

MPs approved key planks of the Government’s ‘Plan B’ measures, including mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff, mask wearing, and most controversially, Covid passports.

But 96 Conservative MPs voted against Covid passports, which would see certain venues ask for proof of negative test or double vaccination before allowing entry.

While the Prime Minister’s working majority is 79, the measures passed anyway, as Labour supported the proposals.

It was the biggest Tory rebellion yet faced by Boris Johnson - but what are some of the other rebellions has he faced so far in his two-year premiership?

Rule of six

Fourteen Tory MPs rebelled against the Government’s move to keep the ‘rule of six’ in England in October 2020, with influential backbencher Sir Graham Brady saying it did not make scientific sense.

But the Government easily won the vote 287 votes to 17. Labour had abstained on the vote.

10pm curfew

The same month, a bigger-than-expected rebellion saw 42 Tory MPs vote against the party line in opposition to the 10pm curfew.

The move was largely symbolic, as Boris Johnson comfortably won the vote, by 299 votes to 82. MP for the ‘red wall’ seat of Bolton West, Chris Green, quit as a junior ministerial aide minutes before the vote.

Rashford and free school meals

While much smaller in number, some backbenchers voted with Labour on October 21 2020 on the issue of free school meals after a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.

Five Tory MPs broke the whip to vote with Labour on a motion to extend free school meals over the holidays - only for the Government to later u-turn amid public outcry.

New tier restrictions

The Government endured a sizable Tory rebellion after it introduced new tougher ‘tier’ measures in England on December 1, 2020.

The strengthened tiers came after the four-week November lockdown, and saw 55 Tory MPs vote against the Government, forcing Boris Johnson to rely on Labour’s abstentions for the measures to pass.

It remains the biggest backbench rebellion the PM has seen so far.

International aid cut

Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May was among those rebelling against the Government on its plans to cut foreign aid on July 13, 2020.

24 Tory MPs voted against the cut to international aid to 0.5% of GDP, with Ms May saying the move meant the poorest in the world could go hungry.

However, it successfully passed by 333 votes to 298.