UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is relying on votes from the opposition Labour Party as many of his own Conservative lawmakers plan to rebel against new coronavirus restrictions.

The parliamentary vote will take place this evening on whether to adopt the measures, which include ordering people to work from home, to wear masks in public places and use COVID-19 passes to enter some venues in a bid to curb the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

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While the rules are expected to be approved by parliament, the dissent in his party ranks is yet another blow to Johnson, who has come under fire in recent weeks for reported parties in his Downing Street office last year when such gatherings were banned, a pricey refurbishment of his apartment and the chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

While many of his dissenting party members say the restrictions are draconian, questioning the introduction of so-called "COVID passports," to enter some venues, such as night clubs, others are using the vote as an opportunity to vent their anger at Johnson for his recent perceived missteps.

While the Conservatives won a large majority at the 2019 election, a new survey by Ipsos Mori shows Johnson's popularity has plunged, with Labour leader Keir Starmer leading him by 13 percentage points, marking a significant change on the September survey results.

When asked "who would make the most capable prime minister" out of Johnson and Starmer, the vote was split 31 percent and 44 percent respectively.

Lawmakers are due to start consecutive votes on the measures in turn from 6:30 p.m. local time.

The government argues the measures are necessary to stem the spread of Omicron, which now accounts for more than 40 percent of infections in London and is very soon expected to become the dominant strain in the British capital.

The nation yesterday reported its first death from the variant and 10 people have been hospitalized with Omicron across England.

Ministers are moving to try to win over the Conservative rebels, saying that people who have not been double jabbed can instead offer proof of a negative lateral flow test to gain access to indoor venues of more than 500 people.

But several are not convinced.

"It is quite wrong that people should be expected to produce what is essentially a health ID card before they can access services that should be available to all," said Conservative lawmaker and former minister David Jones.

"People should certainly be encouraged to have the vaccine ... but ultimately people have to take responsibility for their own health," he told Reuters.