After stinging revolt, UK minister defends Johnson's record on COVID

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps walks in Downing Street in London, Britain, December 8, 2021. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - A minister defended the government's handling of Britain's COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday but admitted it may have made some mistakes, a day after almost 100 Conservatives dealt a blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson by voting against new curbs.

Transport minister Grant Shapps sought to play down what was the largest rebellion against Johnson's administration by lawmakers from his own party, saying it was not surprising that there were different views over the restrictions, dubbed draconian by many Conservatives.