West Dorset MP Chris Loder was one of 97 Tory rebels to vote against new Covid restrictions.

Plan B was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week and includes mandatory face coverings on public transport, shops and most indoor venues, as well as the introduction of Covid passes - or vaccine passports - for large venues.

Despite it being the largest rebellion under Boris Johnson's leadership, Plan B was passed.

Mr Loder said: "It is no secret that I am opposed to the principle of vaccines passports.

"There is a mitigating factor that a negative test will get around the need for a vaccine pass to be presented, but when there is apparently also a need for a 'national conversation on vaccine passports', I don't want this to be the thin end of the wedge.

"In my mind, it should be the other way around, with vaccine passes as the mitigating circumstance and tests being offered as the default currency, which I believe will be more valuable anyway, since even with vaccination, you can get coronavirus and pass it on.

"The data and evidence to convince me that Plan B is necessary has not been presented."

He added: "I will not surrender basic freedoms and liberties lightly and, given we are not making as much progress as needed on vaccine boosters for those who are older, that is and continues to be my first priority.

"When I am dealing with an NHS bureaucracy in Dorset that says it will take 25 days to respond to my letter about the issue of vaccination boosters not being readily available locally for the over 60s, I hope you can appreciate how important that first priority is."

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