BOTH borough Conservative MPs, Jackie Doyle-Price and Stephen Metcalfe voted against elements of the government's Covid Plan B proposals in this evening's (Tuesday, 14 December) vote in the Commons.

Before the votes, Prime Minister made a last-minute plea to his MPs to support the government's Plan B measures, but Conservative backbenchers lined up during the debate to criticise them.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle Price, who acted as a teller in the vote, had already declared her objection to the measures proposed by the government and told Thurrock Nub News why in this story.

And South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe joined her in the 'No' lobby when it came to a vote on introducing Covid passes.

However, the government still managed to push through its proposals as a majority of Labour MPs backed the government proposals, meaning the rebels were well beaten, with the government having a majority of 243 despite a total of 99 Conservative rebelling.

That means with effect from tomorrow NHS Covid passes, showing a recent negative test or full vaccination, must be shown to get into many large venues, including nightclubs.

Health minister Gillian Keegan admitted Conservative MPs had faced "difficult" decisions, still having received only "partial information" from scientists on the Omicron variant.

"We have decided that we need to buy time... We really do need to slow down this unbelievably transmittable virus," she added.

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Tonight's vote brought the following legislation into law:

• Vaccinations are 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
• Daily lateral flow tests for fully vaccinated people who come into contact with Covid cases, instead of isolation
• Face masks will remain compulsory in a wider range of venues