Boris Johnson is the receiver of good news and bad news this evening. He is on course to win Commons approval for his new tier system when it’s put to a vote on Tuesday. However, it will likely be down to support from Labour. While a Tory revolt is brewing, Sir Keir Starmer has announced that his party will abstain in the vote — meaning even a sizeable rebellion on the Tory benches won’t be enough to stop it passing.
Explaining his decision, Starmer said his party would not vote against the restrictions on the grounds that Labour will ‘always act in the national interest’. His reason for not voting for the restrictions? The lack of a ‘credible health and economic plan in place’. Labour officials are braced for a small rebellion tomorrow evening with some Labour MPs expected to defy the whip and vote against.
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