The new taxation programme could cost Mr Johnson the next general election. The protests against the tax rises have been led by former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. Sir Iain has declared the new tax plan "chaotic".

       New Conservative Party MPs in the North and Midlands said the National Insurance rise would spell "doom" for the Tories at the next election.

       One said privately: "This is a Red Wall tax in all but name and it's a gift to Labour."

       The TaxPayers' Alliance has said that the National Insurance rise could disproportionately affect working people in the North and Midlands.

       However, it will not affect key Tory voters who own property and are retired.

       The rebellion within the Conservative Party has gathered a reported 100 Tory MPs in a so-called "awkward squad".

       Speaking to the Mail of Sunday, Senior Tory MP Marcus Fysh said: "Without much greater explanation and concessions, the Government faces a potentially much greater rebellion from the Tory benches this week."

       He said that this new tax and National Insurance rise is "ill thought-out".

       He added that Mr Johnson had abandoned the "hard-earned" reputation as the party of low taxes.

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       Leaders of the rebels are set to meet Chancellor Rishi Sunak tomorrow ahead of a debate on the Health and Social Care Levy Bill on Tuesday.

       The news comes after the Prime Minister ordered Conservative MPs to vote through a 1.25 percent rise in National Insurance from next April.

       This would raise ￡36billion in three years mostly to reduce NHS waiting lists after the pressure of the pandemic.

       It would also stem the social care crisis that could see many people having to sell their homes to fund social care.

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       However, this will adversely affect working-age people, and maintain the housing market at prices that are beyond the reach of many.

       Mr Johnson tackled the rebellion by stating his Government "will not duck the tough decisions needed to get NHS patients the treatment they need and to fix our broken social care system".

       The National Insurance rise represents the ripping up of a clear Conservative pledge in the 2019 election manifesto.

       Writing to the Mail on Sunday former Conservative MP David Mellor called it a "fundamental breach" of Conservative principles.