The prime minister is set to face his biggest rebellion yet on Tuesday over plan B restrictions – specifically plans to bring in Covid certificates, with the list of Tory MPs threatening to vote against them reported to be at around 76.
In another tense week at Westminster, Boris Johnson also has a by-election to deal with on Thursday for the formerly safe Conservative seat of North Shropshire. It follows Owen Paterson’s resignation in a row over his second job and breaches of lobbying rules. The Lib Dems now look set to take the constituency, early polling suggests.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has demanded Mr Johnson come to parliament and answer questions about whether he misled MPs over alleged Christmas lockdown rule-breaking.
Speaking to Sky News this morning, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said the PM’s “credibility is in tatters” and echoed Sir Keir’s call for him to take questions in parliament. Asked if the Tory leader should resign following the controversy, the Labour MP said “that is a matter for the prime minister and his conscience”.
Patel faces legal action over Windrush compensation failures
Priti Patel is facing legal action for the Windrush Compensation Scheme’s failure to pay out to victims – with just 5 per cent receiving money in the four years since the scandal came to light.
Windrush Lives and Good Law Project are asking for control of the Home Office-run scheme to be given to an independent organisation to ensure victims receive long-awaited justice, as recommended by the Home Affairs Committee, to increase trust and encourage more applications, reports our race correspondent Nadine White.
“Together with Windrush Lives, we are asking Priti Patel to listen to Windrush victims and set up an independent scheme. If she really wanted to make things right, she’d do so voluntarily,” Jo Maugham, director of Good Law Project, said. “But we think any failure would be unlawful and amenable to judicial review.”
Watch: PM claims he ‘broke no rules’ with Christmas quiz
Nigel Farage: Johnson using omicron emergency to ‘save his own political skin’
Nigel Farage has claimed Boris Johnson is using the omicron variant to distract attention away from a series of scandals engulfing his administration.
The former Brexit party leader, who now hosts a show on GB News, said he “doesn’t believe” the UK’s Covid situation is an emergency.
Despite rising cases, hospitalisations and incomplete data on the severity of the strain, Mr Farage said “all the evidence from South Africa suggests the variant is manageable.”
“This is a cynical ploy to save his own political skin — don’t buy it!” he added in a tweet.
His comments came less than 24 hours after the PM said the country was facing a “tidal wave” of infections and announced a huge extension to the booster programme to slow omicron’s spread.
‘That’s the Christmas present I think he deserves’
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran says her party has a “real chance” of winning Thursday’s North Shropshire by-election.
She said some Conservative “sources” believe around just 500 votes could decide the contest, which is being billed in some Conservative circles as a referendum on Boris Johnson’s leadership of his party.
Ms Moran added that if the Lib Dem candidate, Helen Morgan wins on Thursday it would be “the Christmas present he [the PM] deserves” amid several allegations of misconduct.
Government not listening to people in Northern Ireland, new shadow secretary of state warns
Boris Johnson’s government has been accused of “continually imposing regulations and laws” over the heads of people in Northern Ireland, by the new shadow secretary of state.
Peter Kyle visited Stormont for the first time since his appointment as shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, and expressed concerns over Government policies on Brexit and proposals to deal with the legacy of the Troubles.
Mr Kyle, who replaced Louse Haigh in the role, is meeting political parties as well as business, victims and cultural groups this week and said he wanted to use the trip to “listen and learn”.
He told the PA news agency: “I was disappointed in recent days I couldn’t get over here fast enough.
“It is my absolute conviction to be a voice for the whole of Northern Ireland in Westminster, and in order to do that I need to meet as many people as I can, I need to listen as much as I can and I need to build as many relationships as possible.”
PM refuses to confirm no more restrictions before Christmas
Asked three times today if he could rule out further restrictions being imposed in the UK before Christmas, Boris Johnson declined the opportunity to give such assurances.
Instead, he said the current combination of plan B rules and an extended booster vaccine rollout was “the right approach” for now.
PM insists he ‘certainly broke no rules’ at Christmas parties
Boris Johnson has again assured reporters he “broke no rules” when asked about parties and gatherings in Downing Street last year, during lockdown.
Speaking on a visit to a vaccination clinic in west London, the PM told broadcasters: “All that is being looked into. But if I may respectfully say to you… of course, all that must be properly gone into – you’ll be hearing from the cabinet secretary about it all.”
He continued, saying Simon Case would report back “as soon as we reasonably can” and that the investigation could include a virtual quiz he himself was pictured at on 15 December.
“But frankly, when I look at what we’re trying to do now, the crucial thing is that people understand the challenge that is posed by omicron. But also understand that this is a challenge that collectively we can meet,” Mr Johnson added.
“What I’m focused on, frankly, is the vaccine rollout.”
PM refers himself to Simon Case over quiz last year
Sky News’ Beth Rigby reports the following:
At least one patient dead after getting omicron, PM says
At least one Covid patient in hospital has been confirmed to have died after contracting the omicron variant, Boris Johnson has said.
Speaking during a visit to a vaccination clinic near Paddington, in west London, the prime minister said: “Sadly, yes, omicron is producing hospitalisations and sadly at least one patient has been confirmed to have died with omicron.
“So I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population. So the best thing we can do is all get our boosters.”
Adam Forrest has this breaking report:
