BORIS Johnson is “too weak to lead” after a massive revolt by Tory MPs over his Covid-19 plans, Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister is under intense pressure after 100 backbenchers voted against the introduction of mandatory vaccine passes for large venues and nightclubs, with many stating they were unhappy with the way Johnson is leading the country.
The rebellion was the biggest suffered by Johnson during his tenure as PM, with nearly a third of MPs opposing the measures being brought in to tackle the rise in cases due to the Omicron variant.
And, during the last PMQs of 2021, Labour leader Starmer said that it was clear after the vote on Tuesday night that Johnson had lost the trust of his MPs and the public.
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Starmer added that Johnson was the “worst possible Prime Minister at the worst possible time”.
He told the chamber that Tory rebels “voted against steps necessary to protect the NHS”, while Johnson responded by ignoring the question and stated the UK Government is taking a “balanced approach” to new measures.
Starmer also claimed that if the Labour party hadn’t supported the Covid measures, they would not have passed in the Commons.
He said: “The Labour Party showed the leadership yesterday that the Prime Minister lacked. If it wasn’t for Labour votes his government wouldn’t have been able to introduce vital health measures we need.”
Johnson was under first at PMQs after a massive Tory rebellion against Covid measures
He added that the Prime Minister’s leadership is “weak”, and that he can understand why Tory backbenchers are “angry with him”.
Starmer then listed a number of claims he said the Government has made, including that earlier relaxation of restrictions were irreversible, or that last week Plan B measures were not required, and that it would not raise taxes, among others.
Starmer added: “It’s overpromise, after overpromise until reality catches up.
“Does the Prime Minister understand why his own MPs no longer trust him?”
The Prime Minister said: “He comes to this House pompously claiming that he wants to rise above party politics and support the efforts of the nation in delivering the vaccine rollout, and then he talks endlessly about party politics and plays political games.”
READ MORE: PMQs: Ian Blackford accuses Boris Johnson of 'smoke and mirrors' over Covid cash
Gesturing to Johnson, Starmer said that the only person “undermining public confidence is sitting right there”, adding that it was wrong for Tory MPs to vote against basic public health measures, but they were not wrong to distrust the PM.
Citing the row over Christmas parties allegedly held in Number 10 last year, Starmer asked why the public should listen to Johnson and do things that “people working in Downing Street are not prepared to do?”
Johnson said: “The answer is very very clear and it’s there in what the public are doing, because they can see that the Government is getting on with delivering on their priorities, not just on the economy but above all on delivering the fastest booster rollout in Europe.”
The Labour leader said: “The British public are looking for a Prime Minister with the trust and the authority to lead Britain through the crisis. Instead we’re burdened with the worst possible Prime Minister at the worst possible time.”
Addressing Tory heckles trying to drown out his question, he said: “They’re shouting now, where were they in the lobby last night?
“His own MPs have had enough, they won’t defend him, they won’t turn up to support him and, if he proposes them, they won’t vote for basic public health measures.”
Starmer added: “The Prime Minister is so weak that without Labour votes last night, vital public health measures wouldn’t have got through.”
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Starmer said Johnson responded “it’s not true”, while the House of Commons live stream cut to Johnson shaking his head.
Starmer added: “He’s so socially distanced from the truth, he thinks that’s not true. I don’t know where to start.
“We can’t go on with a Prime Minister who is too weak to lead. So will the Prime Minister take time this Christmas to look in the mirror and ask himself whether he has the trust and authority to lead this country?”
Johnson said: “We won that vote last night with Conservative votes.
Starmer said the PM is "too weak to lead" after the massive Tory revolt
“I respect the feelings, the anxieties colleagues have – of course I do – and legitimate anxieties that colleagues have about restrictions on their liberty and the liberty of people.
“But I believe the approach we’re taking is balanced and proportionate and right for this country.”
Johnson went on to defend “tough” decisions he has taken as Prime Minister, including on the vaccine rollout.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories in a muddle over UK Government Covid funding
He said: “They vacillate, we vaccinate. They jabber, we jab. They play party politics and we get on with the job.”
We told how the Tory rebellion was the “biggest revolt” of Johnson’s leadership so far.
MPS voted 269 to 126, with a majority of 243, to approve Covid passes for nightclubs and larger venues in England.
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