The hypocrisy of those freedom-loving Tory rebels – The Guardian

The Tory rebels spout about slippery slopes, kneejerk emergency measures and a permanent change to the understanding of what liberty is (MPs back Covid passes in England amid large Tory rebellion, 14 December). They should read that great libertarian John Stuart Mill: The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.

Its pretty clear that being complicit in the spread of Covid-19 to your fellow citizens is likely to do some of them harm, so restrictions on the behaviour of those who wilfully refuse to minimise the risk are not only justified, but are an essential act by any responsible government.Doug Maughan Dunblane, Stirling

I do think it is wrong to characterise rightwing Conservatives as freedom loving (Rebellious mood on Tory backbenches puts Boris Johnson on notice, 14 December). True, they like to promote certain limited sorts of freedom the freedom for people rather like themselves to do what they want without interference from pesky regulations, the freedom to spend their money and manage the economy as they would like, and so on.

But there are a lot of freedoms they have little interest in freedom from want, from squalor, from hunger, from disease, of assembly, of the courts, of movement and to settle in this country. These are instead to be dealt with through firm and strict regulation.Richard Williams Hove, East Sussex

Martha Spurrier (Who will stop human rights abuses if the government puts itself above the law?, 14 December) is absolutely right about this governments systematic dismantling of our freedoms. That is why the freedom and liberty claims by Tory MPs as the reason for voting against the new Omicron restrictions ring so hollow and mendacious.

If they were honest and sincere in their beliefs, they would not be sitting on their hands as this government trashes the Human Rights Act; disenfranchises citizens without a photo ID; criminalises protests; intends to abolish or at least dilute judicial review; removes protection from whistleblowers; and threatens to castrate the Electoral Commission. I wonder, too, how many of them consulted their constituents before making their decision? Michael Newman Shefford, Bedfordshire

I am relieved Labour supported Covid vaccine passes, and other plan B measures, in parliament, though a plan C is clearly also needed imminently. The bill passed but, as you report, nearly 100 Tories voted against: thats a large proportion of the partys backbenchers. The government now has to rely on Labour to get totally necessary health legislation through the Commons. Thats a damning indictment of the Tory party, and on Boris Johnsons leadership. Johnson is not leading anyone not his country, not even his party. Sebastian Monblat Sutton, London

I get why further restrictions might be needed, and why parliament should get to vote on them. But given that the restrictions are going to be about reducing mixing between people, how on earth can it make sense to drag 650 MPs from all over the country to vote in person? Or is our system so archaic that theyd have to vote in person on a decision to allow remote voting? Mark WalfordLondon

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The hypocrisy of those freedom-loving Tory rebels - The Guardian