Rishi Sunak has been criticised for not announcing a new package of support amid the latest Covid guidance
” height=”726″ width=”982″ srcset=”https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/12/16/08/newFile-2.jpg?width=320&auto=webp&quality=75&crop=982:726,smart 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/12/16/08/newFile-2.jpg?width=640&auto=webp&quality=75&crop=982:726,smart 640w” layout=”responsive” data-hero i-amphtml-ssr class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”> Rishi Sunak has been criticised for not announcing a new package of support amid the latest Covid guidance
Senior Tories are rounding on England’s chief medical officer for issuing public health guidance advising people to reduce their social contacts in the run-up Christmas.
Professor Chris Whitty’s advice was tacitly backed by Boris Johnson at last night’s Covid press conference, with the prime minister saying that people should “think carefully” before meeting other people.
But ex-ministers Steve Brine and Steve Baker laid into Prof Whitty, claiming that government advisers are “running the show” in decided Covid restrictions.
Earlier chancellor Rishi Sunak was accused of going “missing in action” by businesses and trade unions after reportedly flying to California as Treasury officials scrambled to put together a financial support packages.
Away from Westminster, voters are heading to the polls in the North Shropshire by-election triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson, the ex-Tory MP who quit after he was found to have broken lobbying rules.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics on the day of the North Shropshire by-election.
Lib Dems say North Shropshire by-election is ‘coin toss’
Last night, the leader of the Liberal Democrats claimed the by-election was a “coin toss” between his party and the Conservatives.
Speaking on the eve of the contest, Ed Davey urged Labour and Green voters to “lend us their support” to defeat Boris Johnson’s party by backing their candidate Helen Morgan.
Jon Stone, our policy correspondent, has the full story:
Rishi Sunak ‘accused of going missing in action’ as businesses call for support
With Covid guidance telling people to cut back on socialising, business leaders and unions have blasted chancellor Rishi Sunak for failing to announce a package of support for the hospitality sector, such as the furlough scheme.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak has been in California on a four-day official trip – The Mirror revealed on Wednesday evening.
He was accused of going “missing in action” by one union, the newspaper reported.
Ben Chapman reports:
Industry leader calls on chancellor to ‘stand up’
Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s night-time industry tsar, has called on the chancellor to “stand up”.
“We need immediate help,” he said.
‘Perhaps he might want to get himself on a flight back’
Labour has also chimed in with calls for the chancellor to return to the UK.
“We understand the Chancellor is currently out of the country in California,” Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said.
“So perhaps he might want to get himself on a flight back and get a grip on the situation because businesses need certainty and confidence now.”
‘Nowhere to be seen’
Calls are growing for Rishi Sunak to get back to the UK to support businesses amid increasing concerns about omicron.
Reports say the chanellor is in California on an “official trip” while his team in London scramble to put a package together for hospitality businesses hit by Christmas cancellations.
Labour’s shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said it is “frankly inexplicable that the chancellor and the business secretary are nowhere to be seen”.
Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick has the full report:
Labour: Financial support needed to help businesses weather ‘perfect storm’
Labour is calling on ministers to urgently provide businesses with “clarity” by setting out a financial support package to help them tackle a slump in earnings due to the spread of omicron.
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor and Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow business secretary, have written to their opposite numbers expressing “great concern” over the lack of action from government.
Their letter came after prime minister Boris Johnson told the nation in a televised press briefing last night to minimise social gatherings in the run-up to Christmas, sparking fears that the badly hit hospitality sector could become further decimated.
It says Labour would provide businesses with more flexibility in repaying debts from pandemic-related government loans, increase small business rate relief and support workers by improving sick pay and strengthening self-isolation support.
In their letter, they also ask Rishi Sunak and Kwasi Kwarteng to:
– explain what impact the government believes the latest Covid measures will have on different sections of the economy
-set out any assessment the government made on the economic impact limiting social contact, announced by the PM last night, would have on businesses
-set out a plan to mitigate the potential impact of this
-explain what conservations have taken place with businesses and unions about how plan B measures could affect different sectors of the economy
Full letter below:
Voters head to the polls in North Shropshire
Voters are heading to the polls today in the North Shropshire by-election triggered by Owen Paterson, the ex-Tory MP who resigned after he was found to have broken lobbying rules.
Last night, on the eve of the vote, the Liberal Democrats claimed the contest was a “coin toss” between them and the Tories, as Labour’s Keir Starmer denied a “gentleman’s agreement” with the Liberals had taken place in a bid to dial back campaigning and give Ed Davey’s party a free run at the West Midlands seat.
The Tories are defending a 23,000 majority, in what was expected to be a straight shoot out between them and the Lib Dems. Locals began casting their ballots at 7am this morning and the polls stay open until 10pm tonight.
Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds
Voters across the political divide are going cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal as its implications become clearer, a new study has found.
Leave and Remain voters have both become more likely than they were in January to say the UK has got a bad deal with the EU.
The study, by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), found that just 12 per cent of people believed Britain and got a good deal in August – a decline from 21 per cent who took the same view in January.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Sunak to address business leaders ‘later this afternoon’
Rishi Sunak will address business leaders’ concerns about omicron later this afternoon, a Treasury minister has said.
It looks as though the chancellor will conduct the talks virtually as he’s in California on an official trip.
“The chancellor will be speaking to UK hospitality sector this afternoon to address their concerns” Treasury minister John Glen has told MPs.
