NEW Year celebrations were on a knife-edge last night as Boris Johnson agonised over imposing tough Covid curbs.
The PM has been warned by gloomy experts he must act within 48 hours to halt the spread of the virus before it is “too late”.
But restless Tories have urged him to stand firm and predicted a fresh lockdown will spell misery for millions.
Mr Johnson is determined to avoid tightening restrictions amid fears it will enrage his MPs and could even trigger a leadership challenge.
Plotters have been encouraged by the recent rebellion in which 100 Tory MPs opposed his latest set of restrictions in a Commons vote.
One senior backbencher said: “Boris needs to avoid antagonising them any further.”
Tory MP Richard Drax declared: “Evidence is showing there is no need for further restrictions. Another lockdown would devastate lives and livelihoods. Enough is enough.”
A member of the Covid Recovery Group of MPs said: “Last week cabinet ministers showed guts by cross-examining the data. I hope they show similar courage if the PM brings forward lockdown measures after Christmas.”
In a fresh blow, Gareth Lyon, chairman of Aldershot and North Hants Conservative Association, resigned over the introduction of the Covid pass.
He said he could no longer play a key role in a party which offers “the precise opposite of Conservatism”.
