Thursday’s by-election in the usually ultra-safe Conservative seat of North Shropshire is on a “knife edge’, the leader of the Liberal Democrats has said.
Speaking three days ahead of the vote, Ed Davey told The Independent that his party has a good chance of winning the constituency, following the resignation of the disgraced Tory MP Owen Paterson.
“We’ve had some good by-election victories over the years, but this would be off the scale,” he added.
Other difficulties for the government include the prospect of the largest rebellion of Boris Johnson’s premiership, with over 70 backbenchers threatening to defy the whip and vote against the government’s new Plan B measures to slow the spread of the omicron variant.
It is also reported that up to 10 ministerial aides could resign to oppose the controls, with up to four votes on the measures expected to take place on Tuesday evening.
The measures – including Covid passes for entry into nightclubs and other venues – are expected to pass the Commons with the support of Labour, who back tighter controls.
Elsewhere, the justice secretary Dominic Raab has been accused by Labour of “endangering the public” through his proposed changes to the Human Rights Act.
Sturgeon urges Scots to limit socialising
Nicola Sturgeon has encouraged people in Scotland to limit their social circles to a maximum of three households over the Christmas period.
The first minister’s plea comes amid the spread of the omicron variant.
My colleague Adam Forrest has this report:
UK to remove 11 African countries from travel ‘red list’
The UK will remove travel restrictions to and from 11 African countries from tomorrow, Sajid Javid has confirmed.
Speaking earlier in the Commons, the health secretary said: “Omicron is a grave threat. We acted early to slow its spread, strengthening our testing regime and placing 11 countries on the travel red list.
“But despite those swift steps the data over the past few days has shown more cause concern. I’d like to reinforce with the House today, to all honourable members why omicron represents such a risk to the progress that we’ve all made so far together.”
Health secretary announces Plan B Covid measures
Health secretary Sajid Javid is announcing the government’s new “Plan B” coronavirus measures in the Commons.
“These are not steps that we would take lightly. I firmly believe in individual liberty and that curbs should be placed on our freedoms only in the gravest of circumstances,” he said.
His words come as dozens of Tory backbenchers could vote against the government on legislation including the mandatory use of Covid passports for entry into entertainment venues.
Man detained for attempting to drive car through parliament gates
A man has been detained after trying to drive a car through the UK parliament’s gates, according to police.
He has since been detainted under the Mental Health Act, the Metropolitan Police said.
Government guilty of ‘growing authoritarianism’, says Labour MP
Boris Johnson’s party is guilty of “growing authoritarianism” after it announced its plan to water down human rights legislation, a Labour MP has claimed.
Addressing justice secretary Dominic Raab, Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, said “If we were playing authoritarian bingo then after today’s statement from the secretary of state, we’d have a full house.
“Not only have you come for our trade union rights, our rights to vote, our rights to protest, (but) our human rights now are up for grabs. Today’s statement does nothing to strengthen human rights, it does everything to weaken them.
“This isn’t a party of freedom opposite, it’s a party of growing authoritarianism and many of you over there know it.”
In response, Mr Raab said the Labour politician’s statement had highlighted “the importance of protecting free speech and rambunctious debate even though he’s wrong about everything he says”.
Rachel Reeves test positive for Covid-19
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Labour frontbencher announced the news on Tuesday, three days after she received her booster shot.
Ms Reeves said that she would have voted in favour of Plan B Covid restrictions if she was in the Commons this afternoon. “Vaccines are our best weapon against Covid,” she added.
Human rights lawyers react to Raab proposals
Human rights experts have accused the government of being the first liberal democracy to reduce rather than increase rights protections.
Here’s a tweet from barrister Adam Wagner on the justice secretary’s new proposal:
Human rights ‘not safe in Tory hands’, says Caroline Lucas
The only Green MP has lambasted the government over its decision to change the Human Rights Act.
Caroline Lucas, who represents Brighton Pavilion, tweeted: “Our fundamental rights are being taken away by this government one by one – the right to protest, citizenship rights, the right to vote without showing photo ID.”
“Basic rights including human rights are not safe in Tory hands. This proves it,” she added.
Raab reveals Human Rights Act proposal
Dominic Raab is now speaking in the Commons on his proposed changes to the Human Rights Act.
The justice secretary said the UK will “remain a party to the European Convention on Human Rights” but wants to “change, reform, to revise” how the convention is interpreted by the British courts.
“Let me just be very clear at the outset: my critique is levelled at the Human Rights Act, the way it operates – it’s not levelled at the UK judiciary, who have quite properly sought to implement legislation passed in this House,” he said.
The deputy prime minister added that the new system will allow the UK to deport foreign nationals more easily.
No 10 denies cancellation of Covid passport vote
The government has rejected speculation that it will withdraw its vote on Covid passports in the face of a sizeable Tory backbench rebellion.
Here’s the Sun’s Harry Cole with the latest:
