What MPs voted for:
- Make vaccinations compulsory for NHS workers in England
- Over-18s in England must prove they are fully vaccinated or have a recent negative lateral flow test to enter a number of large venues, such as nightclubs, from Wednesdays
- Daily lateral flow tests for fully vaccinated people who come into contact with Covid cases, instead of isolation
- Continue making face masks compulsory in a wider range of venues
A total of 98 Conservatives voted against the government, but the measure was passed by a majority of 243 thanks to Labour support.
The prime minister made a last minute plea to his MPs to support the government’s Plan B measures, ahead of the votes.
He told the 1922 committee, made up of backbench Tory MPs, that the government had “absolutely no choice” but to introduce the measures, adding: “We simply cannot rely on the suggestion Omicron may be mild.”
He told MPs the evidence was still “unclear” and even if Omicron symptoms did not become as severe as the Delta variant then the levels of transmission would still put people into hospital and the numbers would be “disastrous”.
But Tory backbenchers lined up to attack the Covid pass plan, claiming it will spread fear and do nothing to stop halt the spread of Omicron.
Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, warned against “criminalising the people of England for breaking rules that many, it seems, can not follow”.
And former minster Tim Loughton said he did not want “a society where we ask for papers and deprive people of their liberty”.
For better or for worse … 
