Sir Keir Starmer has branded the prime minister “weak”, saying he had to rely on Labour to push through new Covid measures last night.
Labour’s leader said Tory MPs had “had enough” of Boris Johnson and “won’t defend him” as he tore into the PM on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson has also been warned a leadership challenge is “on the cards” in the new year after 99 of his own MPs defied him over Plan B Covid restrictions in the largest rebellion of his premiership.
It comes as North Shropshire prepares to go to the polls in a by-election on Thursday – triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson.
Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats have weaponised pictures showing a former Conservative London mayoral candidate at a banned Christmas party as they seek to win votes in the traditionally safe Conservative seat.
Chancellor unlikely to reintroduce furloguh, Tory peer says
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is unlikely to reintroduce the furlough scheme if new Covid restrictions are brought in to tackle the spread of omicron, a Tory peer has said.
Lord Vaizsey made the comments on the BBC’s politics live show earlier ahead of a Covid press conference with the PM later this afternoon.
“I suspect that Rishi Sunak will resist,” he said.
More comments below:
Labour makes Starmer meme to poke fun at PM’s ‘lack of authority’
The Labour Party has created a meme of Keir Starmer to poke fun at what it claims is his lack of authority.
Party campaigners have clipped footage from Prime Minister’s Questions showing the Labour leader shaking his head in disbelief, after Johnson said he has his house in order despite last night’s 99-strong Tory rebellion on Covid plan B measures.
“When Boris Johnson claims he still has authority…”
PM questioned on support for businesses
In more on the jobs and economy, SNP Westminster leader has called on the PM to confirm if there is any “new money to support businesses” amid the surge in omicron cases.
Ian Blackford warned more assistance was needed to help people and businesses during the latest phase of the pandemic.
Mr Johnson told the Commons: “We will of course continue with the discussions with the Scottish administration.”
Another furlough?
As concerns mount over Covid, a Tory peer said he believes the chancellor will push back against having another furlough scheme.
Watch here:
Starmer says PM ‘weak’
Sir Keir Starmer has called Mr Johnson “weak” and told him to “get his house in order”, warning rebel Tories are undermining the fight against omicron.
Also in the Commons, Boris Johnson dismissed the furore over Christmas parties in No 10 as “trivia” and denied he needed Labour votes to pass his Plan B restrictions – even though a revolt by 100 Tory MPs wiped out his Commons majority.
Our deputy political editor, Rob Merrick, has the full story:
Full report: ‘Tell them the party’s over’: Lib Dems pay to promote Tory Christmas party photo in last by-election push
The Liberal Democrats are paying to promote a leaked Conservative Christmas party picture into the social media feeds of voters in the North Shropshire by-election.
My colleague Colin Drury reports:
Watch: Starmer calls Johnson ‘worst possible prime minister’
No health department Christmas parties last year, official says
The most senior civil servant in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said he is not aware of any Christmas parties held there last year.
Sir Chris Wormald, DHSC permanent secretary, told the Commons public accounts committee: “Obviously the DHSC has had some issues with social distancing, including one extremely famous event.
“But in terms of Christmas parties, I am not aware of any that occurred last year. Should any evidence of anything come to light, it would be investigated in the usual way.
“But I’m not aware that anything occurred in terms of Christmas parties in DHSC.”
Watch: PM dodges calls to come clean on what he knew about No 10 Christmas parties:
PM: I’ve shown leadership
“We won that vote with Conservative votes”, PM says again.
He again claims government approach is proportionate and reasonable.
PM again points to a number of pandemic issues he says were successful but opposed by Labour.
He says “courageous steps” to take country of lockdown and reopen economy are evidence of leadership.
