Markus Andrews

Boris Johnson has already been forced to introduce social restrictions to combat the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus and rocketing infection numbers this month could see him forced to tighten them still further with Christmas just days away.The prime minister has already brought back mandatory mask-wearing on public transport and in shops, cinemas, theatres and places of worship, asked citizens to work from home where possible and made an NHS Covid Pass or negative lateral flow test a necessary requirement for entry to crowded venues and events involving mass gatherings.Even so, fears persist that strongers measures may yet be needed to beat back Omicron, with government scientific advisers pushing for new restrictions as soon as possible to stop the spread and meeting opposition from senior ministers reluctant to jeopardise the economy and impose further constraints on public freedom.The precise characteristics of the new strain of the virus are still not clear at this early stage in its development, although it is feared it may soon usurp the Delta variant as the dominant strain of Covid-19 given its high transmissibility.In his most recent televised address on the pandemic, Mr Johnson warned of a “tidal wave” of infections breaking on these shores unless the public adhere to the new measures and get their vaccine booster jab as a matter of urgency.The rollout of third shots is being greatly expanded to address the Omicron threat, with the aim of offering one to all over-18s by the end of December, bringing forward that deadline by a month and placing further pressure on medical professionals across the country in the process.That decision came in response to findings by the UK Health Security Agency indicating that two jabs do not offer strong protection against symptomatic infection from Omicron, with the current suite of vaccines less effective against it than they were against delta.However, that same analysis also concluded that those who had received a booster remained up to 70 per cent protected, underlining the importance of getting a third shot as soon as possible.The UK has recorded 12 deaths from the new variant so far and 37,101 confirmed cases.London mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a major incident over the extent of the Omicron outbreak in the capital while NHS England has announced a return to its highest level of emergency preparedness, level four national incident, meaning that the health service’s response will be coordinated as a national effort, rather than led by individual trusts.Overall, the UK added another 82,886 infections in 24 hours on Sunday 19 December plus a further 45 fatalities, a slight fall from the pandemic high of 93,045 recorded the preceding Friday.Meanwhile, just 48.8 per cent of British adults have had their booster injection so far, although demand is high so that figure should continue to climb rapidly as more people make an appointment and roll up their sleeves.The PM is not currently scheduled to hold a Covid press briefing on Monday 20 December but he is known to be hosting an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the developing threat posed by the virus.The usual statistical update will certainly take place this evening and we can expect further announcements from the prime minister in the coming days, as the Omicron situation develops. More

Boris Johnson has yet to decide whether to introduce tougher Covid restrictions before Christmas, but has ordered an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon.The government is still “monitoring” the latest data, No 10 says – despite a chorus of calls from leading scientists for a crackdown now, to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed.The prime minister is thought to have been presented with three options, ranging from mere guidance to people to be more cautious to a full lockdown at some point before the New Year.“At this point we are still monitoring the data and keeping a close eye on it,” his spokesman said, adding that fresh information was coming in “hourly” in some cases.“More clarity” was needed, he argued, including on the impact of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant on “severe illnesses, hospitalisations and deaths”.However, Mr Johnson is facing opposition to new curbs from within his own cabinet, at a time when he is severely weakened by rows over sleaze and lockdown-busting parties and after his humiliation in the North Shropshire by-election.He has promised MPs will be recalled to back any further restrictions – which could again leave him dependent on Labour votes to get approval for them.The spokesman said the government also needed to “strike the right balance between lives and livelihoods”, in setting a fresh course.“This is a fast-moving situation,” he said, revealing Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, the chief medical and scientific advisers, will brief the cabinet.The Sage advisory group has warned of the need for urgent new measures to stem a huge surge of hospital admission, telling the government: “Delaying until 2022 would greatly reduce the effectiveness of such interventions.”Leading scientists have spoken out, including Professor Stephen Reicher, who chairs the Spi-B group, who said: “The safest thing is not to meet up before Christmas.”Mr Johnson’s spokesman would not be drawn on whether new regulations – or guidance, not requiring a Commons recall – is more likely.“We will take any necessary steps in the interest of protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said, noting both approaches have been followed.He was also forced to defend the prime ministers failure to attend a Cobra meeting, on Sunday, with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – angering Nicola Sturgeon.Mr Johnson had attended other meetings, the spokesman insisted – arguing it was appropriate for the Cabinet Office minister Stephen Barclay to take the chair, for a gathering of the devolved governments.He also did not rule out a loosening of isolation rules, so that people who test positive for Covid have to isolate for only 7, and not 10, days, something thought to be under consideration.“We will keep anything like that, on the isolation period, under review, based on the latest clinical advice and we would update if that were to change,” the spokesman said. More

The minister put in charge of Brexit talks following the resignation of Lord David Frost is a former Remain supporter who issued a number of dire warnings against Britain leaving the EU during the 2016 referendum campaign.Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, is now tasked with dealing with Brussels after Lord Frost, the de-facto Brexit chief, quit government citing concerns about the Tory Party’s direction of travel under prime minister Boris Johnson.His exit came just days after a major climbdown by the UK on the role of the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland and amid ongoing disputes with the bloc over the protocol.During the Brexit referendum campaign, Ms Truss said she was backing remain “as I believe it is in Britain’s economic interest and means we can focus on vital economic and social reform at home”.In a May 2016 speech to the Food and Drink Federation, she warned delegates that voting to leave the EU would badly hit the interests of businesses in the hospitality industry – as well as the wider economy – and ultimately make Britons poorer.”I do think it’s in all of our interests to communicate the real impact on the ground; the real impact this would have on jobs, livelihoods because what we now is less trade would mean fewer investments, it would mean fewer jobs and that would feed through to people’s incomes,” she told the assembled audience.”And that just doesn’t affect me and you in this room, that affects everyone in the overall economy. So even if you’re in a company that doesn’t export, the company that does export will be buying less of your services and I think that’s a message we really need to get across in the closing weeks of this campaign.”She added: “But I have great faith in the British people; I think the British people are sensible people [and] they understand fundamentally that, economically, Britain will be better off staying in a reformed EU.”The following month Ms Truss tweeted that “Leave cannot name one country we would get a better trade deal with if we left the EU,” as both sides put forward their economic arguments ahead of the 23 June vote.After getting appointed as chief secretary to the Treasury by Mr Cameron’s successor Theresa May, Ms Truss then changed her stance on Brexit and in October 2017 said that she had “also seen the opportunities” of the process as she outlined her support for it.“I believed there would be massive economic problems but those haven’t come to pass and I’ve also seen the opportunities,” she said. Further explaining why she had “changed her mind” on Brexit, Ms Truss added: “The other thing is it was a big moment on 23 June when British people voted to leave and it was an expression about what kind of country we wanted to be and I think that has changed the debate in this country as well.”Ms Truss, seen as one of the favourites to replace the prime minister should Tory MPs oust him from No 10 amid a slew of recent scandals, previously served as international trade secretary and is perceived as having made a success of the role.Prior to that Ms Truss, who is according to the Conservative Home website the most popular cabinet secretary among Tory Party supporters, served as the secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs under ex-prime minister David Cameron where she campaigned for Remain.The foreign secretary has often hit out at identity politics in the UK and launched what has been described as a “war on woke”.While seen one of the leading candidates to replace him, Ms Truss is viewed as loyal to the prime minister, who promoted her to the Foreign Office role in his September 2016 cabinet reshuffle, which was aimed at resetting the government’s agenda following months of crisis management during the Covid pandemic. The switch made Ms Truss, already the youngest woman ever to be appointed to the cabinet, the youngest Conseravative foreign secretary.As part of her additional Brexit duties, Ms Truss will now be tasked with finding solutions to Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol, which has caused significant discontent within the unionist community and some disruption to trade. In a tweet on Monday she said was was “pleased” to have taken on her new responibilities.Many of Sunday’s newspapers were packed with briefings about why her former government colleague Lord Frost quit, with the Brexit hardball negotiator said to be concerned about the Tory Party’s direction of travel under Mr Johnson. Covid plan B measures and tax rises were put forward as some of the reasons why Lord Frost felt he could no longer support the government. “We have [he and the PM] never disagreed in any way about Brexit policy,” he said on Monday morning in his first public comments since quitting. “Right up to the last day we’ve been absolutely aligned on that, and Liz Truss and Chris Heaton-Harris, I’m sure are going to do a great job.”He added: “I left the government because, as I think is well known, I couldn’t support certain policies – most recently on Covid restrictions and Plan b. And if you’re a minister you have to support collective responsibility, you have to support decisions of the government, and I couldn’t, so that’s why I had to leave.”Last week he pulled back from threats to suspend Article 16 of the protocol as the UK appeared to soften its position on the issue. London also abandoned its bid to strip EU judges of the power to oversee the protocol. More

The gathering of Boris Johnson and his staff to eat cheese and drink wine in the No 10 garden during lockdown last May likely violated Covid regulations, a top legal expert has said.The leaked photo of 19 people in groups spread across the terrace and lawn would appear to be “quite an obvious social gathering”, according to Adam Wagner, the human rights barrister and leading expert on Covid regulations.It comes after deputy prime minister Dominic Raab undermined No 10’s claim that Mr Johnson was working in the garden – saying the 15 May 2020 gathering was held “after” work had finished.Mr Wagner told Sky News: “Having heard Dominic Raab say that this was a drink after the formal business event had ended – it doesn’t sound convincing as a work gathering. It sounds a lot like a social gathering.”The barrister said Covid laws meant people were only allowed people to mix for work “where it could not reasonably be done at home”.The expert added: “I don’t really see how a social gathering, as Dominic Raab seems to have suggested it was, after work, would fall within that reasonable excuse.”Covid laws in place at the time of the 15 May 2020 mixing meant social gatherings of more than two people outdoors were banned.Earlier on 15 May, then-health secretary Matt Hancock had given a press conference in which he told people they could meet one other person from outside their household – but warned people not to socialise despite the pleasant weather.Downing Street has defended the get-together held in May last year on the grounds that “there were staff meetings after a No 10 press conference”, even though the group is eating and drinking.Mr Raab also defended the event, insisting it complied with social mixing rules during the first lockdown because the Downing Street garden is “used for work meetings”. But the deputy PM admitted: “Sometimes they’ll have a drink after a long day or a long week.”Grilled over the Mr Raab’s comments on Monday, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman argued the PM and his staff were “discussing work”, which happened to be “in the No 10 garden”.Drinking alcohol was fine because it was “post-normal work hours”, he claimed – and yet, because it was still a “work meeting” it also complied with the Covid rules.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that it was “a real stretch to pretend that is a work meeting” – noting the photo leaked to The Guardian was taken during a period where people could not attend funerals of loved ones.“I think there are very serious questions to be answered,” said Sir Keir. “Just look at the photo and ask yourself is that a work meeting going on or is that a social event? I think the answer is pretty obvious.”Mr Wagner said Mr Raab’s comment had “changed the dynamics” of the controversy. But the legal expert suggested it was unlikely the Metropolitan Police would investigate, given the force’s reluctance to probe “retrospective” breaches of the Covid regulations.“This was quite a long time ago – I don’t know if this is something the police will get involved in,” he said. “But it’s certainly leans towards something that broke the rules, and something ministers, the prime minister, top officials shouldn’t be anywhere near, really.”The barrister added: “It’s more likely to stay in the political realm than legal realm … the law doesn’t always come charging down the road to fix it. But it’s quite possible it is a legal issue, because it seems quite an obvious social gathering, which weren’t permitted at the time.” More

Labour is ready to support new restrictions to stem the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, so long as they come with an adequate support package for those affected, Sir Keir Starmer has said.Speaking to The Independent the day after Boris Johnson missed a Cobra meeting to discuss the fast-rising tide of infections, Starmer accused the prime minister of being “absent” and called on him to get a grip on the problem.Mr Johnson was forced to rely on Labour votes in a crunch House of Commons division last week to get the current Plan B restrictions through parliament, as 99 Tory MPs rebelled.There are expectations of an even larger revolt if the prime minister asks MPs to back tougher curbs, such as limits on indoor mixing of households or a curfew on pubs and restaurants opening.Mr Johnson has promised to recall parliament for a fresh vote if any new regulations are required to step up action, though it is not thought he would have to do so if he was instead issuing non-binding guidance.Scientists have reported offered him three options for potential action – non-legally binding advice to families to limit indoor mixing over the Christmas period; new restrictions on indoor mixing, a return of social distancing and an 8 pm curfew on pubs and restaurants; or a full-scale “firebreak” lockdown.Minutes of advisory group Sage’s last meeting on Thursday warned “more stringent measures would need to be implemented very soon” to prevent hospitalisations reaching thousands per day, warning that delaying until the New Year “greatly reduce the effectiveness of such interventions and make it less likely that these would prevent considerable pressure on health and care settings.”Asked if Labour would back new restrictions, Starmer said: “What I said to  the prime minister last week, what I say to him again today is we will act in the national interest. “Therefore, if further measures are necessary – and obviously if that’s got the right support package around it – we will act in the national interest. “Now it’s important because that’s the responsible position for the opposition. It’s also important on the back of last week’s vote because – but for Labour voting in the public interest last week, -we wouldn’t even have the Plan B measures in place now. “So my message to the prime minister is there’s deep concern in the country about the numbers. The government, the health secretary, is hinting at restrictions, but the prime minister is absent. “We need a plan. We need him to get a grip. We need him to share that plan with us and with the public. And if it’s the right plan in the public interest, then we will support it.” More

A picture has emerged of Boris Johnson enjoying wine and cheese with his wife and colleagues in the garden of No 10 during the first Covid-19 lockdown — an event described by Downing Street as a work meeting.At least a dozen staff are seen relaxing with drinks at the event, which took place on 15 May, 2020 after a live televised press conference.At that time, members of different households were restricted to one-on-one meetings outdoors, with gatherings indoors strictly forbidden.The event, attended by civil servants and advisers, was revealed last week in a joint investigation by The Independent and The Guardian.A No 10 spokeperson insisted it was a work meeting and that the prime minister had “held a series of meetings throughout the afternoon” in the garden.However, the picture — shared first with The Guardian — appears to cast the event in a different light, including the presence of Mr Johnson’s young baby and a cheeseboard. A source decribed drinks poured at desks as participants huddled chatting just after the news conference finished at around 6pm that evening. It is understood that some staffers carried their alcohol into the garden, making the most of the day’s good weather.Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner demanded the “truth” about what happened in Downing Street during the lockdown.She said “I guess staff meetings look a bit different if you went to Eton? Enough is enough.“Tell us the truth about what was going on in Downing Street from the very beginning immediately.”Last night No 10 repeated its stance, saying: “The picture shows colleagues meeting in a place of work.”A spokesperson added: “As we said last week, work meetings often take place in the Downing Street garden in the summer months. On this occasion there were staff meetings after a No 10 press conference.“Downing Street is the prime minister’s home as well as his workplace. The prime minister’s wife lives in No 10 and therefore also legitimately uses the garden.”At the 50-minute TV news conference held immediately before the 15 May 2020 gathering, health secretary Matt Hancock had described the “shared sacrifice” people across the country had made in observing the stringent measures imposed in the months up to May in order to curb the impact of the virus. More

Labour’s Rachel Reeves has called on Rishi Sunak to “get a grip” and act urgently to strengthen sick pay as the country faces a new wave of the Covid pandemic.With infection rates surging, the shadow chancellor demanded that statutory sick pay (SSP) be extended to the self-employed and called for the reintroduction of SSP rebates for small firms.The scheme – closed by the government in September – allowed employers to claim back the cost of two weeks of sick pay if a worker was self-isolating or had Covid symptoms.According to an analysis by Labour, supporting businesses to cover sick pay would benefit more than five million employees and 600,000 small firms.The party is also urging the chancellor to increase statutory sick pay – currently £96.35 per week and among the least generous schemes in Europe – in order to encourage workers who test positive for Covid-19 to self-isolate.Ms Reeves said: “It is simply not good enough that nearly two years into this pandemic the government have still not sorted sick pay out and are expecting cash-strapped businesses to foot the bill.”She added: “Labour would sort out and increase sick pay, extending it to the self-employed and allowing smaller firms to claim back the cost so they can support their staff to self-isolate.“Labour backs British business and working people. That’s why we’re calling for immediate support for hard-hit businesses, the easing of the burden of Covid debt repayments during this new wave, and cuts in business rates. The chancellor needs to get a grip and support British business and workers before it’s too late.”It comes after papers released at the weekend by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) stressed it was “almost certain there are now hundreds of thousands of new Omicron infections per day”.A sub-group of the body SPI-B, which provides behavioural science advice to ministers, has also long been clear of the benefits of financial aid in supporting self-isolation.In a cache of documents released on Saturday, the experts said: “Isolation, particularly on the basis of symptoms or following a positive test, but also when identified as a contact, is an important way to reduce onwards transmission. The benefits of financial aid and other support for isolation are magnified.”Labour’s comments also follow a demand from the Liberal Democrats for the government to recall parliament this week and for the chancellor to deliver an emergency budget – as concern grows among businesses over the lack of extra support.“Any further Covid restrictions without extra financial support could deal the finishing blow to high streets, theatres and travel businesses already on the brink of collapse,” the party’s leader, Ed Davey, said.He added: “Pubs, restaurants and cafes are on their knees as cancellations over the Christmas period soar. It breaks my heart to walk along local high streets and see treasured pubs and restaurants all but empty at what should be their busiest time of year. “Ministers must immediately recall parliament and introduce an emergency budget, to support struggling businesses. The chancellor is missing in action when he should be doing whatever it takes to save businesses on the brink.” More

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has been drafted in to take over negotiations with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol following the dramatic resignation of Lord Frost.The cabinet minister, who is widely seen as a possible contender in a future Tory leadership race, will be given an expanded brief, taking responsibility for the UK’s relationship with the bloc with immediate effect, No 10 announced.Ms Truss’s appointment came after Lord Frost triggered a fresh crisis for Boris Johnson as it emerged on Saturday evening he had quit his post as Brexit minister, citing the “current direction of travel” of the government.In a blow to Mr Johnson, who suffered the largest rebellion of his premiership and a historic by-election loss this week, the former minister also voiced concerns over “coercive” Covid measures and the wish for the UK to become a “lightly regulated, low-tax” economy in his letter to No 10 on Saturday evening.His resignation, which resulted in fresh recriminations among Conservative MPs in leaked WhatsApp messages, was described as a “disaster” by one backbencher.The appointment of Ms Truss, who has consistently topped surveys as the most popular cabinet minister among the Tory faithful, will be seen as an attempt by Mr Johnson to stabilise his administration after weeks of turmoil on multiple fronts. Ms Truss, who was a prominent member of the Remain campaign during the 2016 EU referendum, will now become the UK’s co-chair of the Partnership Council and the Joint Committee, and will lead the ongoing negotiations to resolve the problems arising from the current operation of the Northern Ireland protocol, a statement said.She will continue to hold her existing responsibilities as foreign secretary and minister for women and equalities.European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said he hoped to continue negotiations with Ms Truss in the “same constructive spirit”, posting on his Twitter account: “I take note of the appointment of Liz Truss as co-chair of the Joint Committee and Partnership Council.“My team and I will continue to cooperate with the UK in the same constructive spirit on all important tasks ahead, including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.”Downing Street added that Chris Heaton-Harris – previously a minister in the Department for Transport – will now become minister for Europe.In his resignation letter last night, Lord Frost told the prime minister he was disappointed about Covid restrictions, warning him not to be “tempted by the kind of coercive measures we have seen elsewhere”, but also hinted at other issues, saying: “You know my concerns about the current direction of travel.”The cabinet minister, who Mr Johnson had elevated to the Lords, helped negotiate the Brexit agreement and in recent months has been instrumental in negotiations with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol.Earlier Sajid Javid, the health secretary, defended the prime minister after Lord Frost’s resignation, telling Sky News: “I think Boris Johnson is the best person to take us through the challenges the country faces.”However Mr Javid, who resigned as chancellor in February 2020 in a row with No 10 over the appointment of his adviser before returning to cabinet in the summer, said he understood the reasons behind Lord Frost’s resignation and called him a “principled” man. More