UK Politics

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is walking a political tightrope as he faces increasing attacks from both friends and enemies amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.For the second winter in a row, Johnson is betting vaccines will be his savior, urging everyone to get booster shots to slow the spread of the new omicron variant, hoping to avoid further politically unpalatable restrictions on business and social activity. The threat to Johnson and his Conservative Party was on stark display last week as the prime minister reeled from one political crisis to another. On Tuesday, Johnson faced the biggest parliamentary rebellion of his tenure as 97 Conservatives voted against new COVID-19 restrictions. Two days later he suffered a stinging by-election defeat in a normally safe Conservative area amid anger over reports that government employees held Christmas parties last year while the country was in lockdown. Then Saturday, one of his staunchest allies resigned from his Cabinet, citing discomfort with the new coronavirus rules.While Johnson’s policy on trying to restrict COVID-19 infections is sound, he will face increasing pressure from all wings of his party to change course, said Giles Wilkes, a senior fellow at the non-partisan Institute for Government. The challenge is to ignore the political noise and base his policies on science, said Wilkes, a former adviser to the prime minister’s predecessor, Theresa May.“The past month’s political spasms may mark a historical turning point in the story of this administration,” Wilkes said, highlighting pivotal decisions of former Prime Ministers John Major and Gordon Brown that ultimately undermined their standing with voters. “Those are not happy comparisons for the prime minister to contemplate.”On Sunday, British newspapers were filled with reports on potential contenders for the prime minister’s office, including Treasury Secretary Rishi Sunak, Foreign Minister Liz Truss and former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The pressure on Johnson is being stoked by the highly transmissible omicron variant, which has pushed Britain’s COVID-19 infections to record highs in recent days. That has once again fueled concerns that U.K. hospitals will be overwhelmed this winter.In response, Johnson ordered the National Health Service to ramp up its vaccine program a week ago, promising that everyone 18 and over would be offered a booster shot this month. But he also introduced legislation requiring people to where face masks in shops and to show they have been double-vaccinated or had negative COVID-19 test to enter crowded venues like nightclubs.The results of Britain’s vaccination program have been impressive, with the number of booster shots administered jumping to more than 900,000 on Saturday from 550,000 a week earlier. Some vaccination centers are staying open 24 hours a day to offer shift workers easier access. But the new restrictions triggered howls from the libertarian wing of Johnson’s party, who say they were unnecessary and the precursor to further limits on personal freedoms. In the face of that opposition, Johnson had to rely on votes from the opposition Labour Party to approve the use of COVID-19 health passports.Now the government’s scientific advisers are recommending that Johnson go further. Limits on social interactions and a return to social distancing are needed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, according to leaked minutes from a meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.Tobias Ellwood, one of the Conservative rebels, criticized the government’s “off the bus, on the bus” approach to tackling the pandemic, saying the country needs consistency.“We need almost like a wartime leader, we need a strong No. 10, and the machinery of No. 10 around Boris Johnson. That’s what needs to be improved,’’ he told Times Radio. “The boosterism, the energy, is not enough in these current circumstances.”Meanwhile, Labour leaders say the “partygate” scandal has undermined public confidence in the Conservative government. It will be difficult for Johnson to impose any new coronavirus restrictions because government offices violated their own rules last year.Government ministers met Sunday with the leaders of governments in Scotland and Wales to discuss “shared challenges, including the economic disruption caused by COVID.” The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay not the prime minister.“He is hiding from his own backbenchers instead of leading,” Wes Streeting, Labour’s spokesman on health issues, told Sky News. “And that kind of weakness instead of leadership should really concern the public, because I think people out there know that measures are necessary.’’___Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. More

A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of “driving whilst unfit” following a late-night crash.Jamie Wallis, the MP for Bridgend in Wales said he was “assisting police with their enquiries” following the collision on November 28, when a car hit a lamppost.A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said there were no reported injuries in the crash on Church Road in Llanblethian, Cowbridge, which happened at about 1.10am.

While this is ongoing he will not be commenting further.Spokesman for Jamie WallisThe spokeswoman said: “The incident involved a car that collided with a lamppost.“A 37-year-old man from Cowbridge was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit. He has been released under investigation.”A spokesman for Mr Wallis said: “Jamie was involved in an accident and is assisting police with their enquiries.“While this is ongoing he will not be commenting further.”The MP tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week. More

Sadiq Khan has said he believes new restrictions are “inevitable” — less than 24 hours after he declared a major incident in the capital due to surging cases of Covid.The London mayor said the city had recorded almost 30,000 cases in one day and warned the NHS could “collapse” if measures are brought in too late.But he also demanded a “major, major package” of financial support for the hospitality industry if the UK government decides news restrictions are needed. “If we don’t bring in new restrictions sooner rather than later, you’re going to see even more positive cases, and potentially public services like the NHS on the verge of collapse, if not collapsing,” he said.While he suggested the public should be able to celebrate Christmas safely, Mr Khan added: “I think sooner rather than later we’re going to look at social distancing, we’re going to have to look at household mixing.“Because if we don’t, the number of cases is only going one way and the issue isn’t the seriousness of the consequences, not just that, it’s also the numbers of people who have the virus.”The decision to impose any restrictions in England ultimately lies with Boris Johnson, who presented his cabinet with the latest data on the spread of the Omicron variant on Saturday. A further Cobra meeting with the devolved nations is expected today.Speaking on Sky News, the health secretary Sajid Javid said ministers are discussing the latest coronavirus data almost hourly with scientific advisers, and said the Government will “do what is necessary” when asked about possible further measures.“We’ve shown in the past as government in dealing with this pandemic that we will do what is necessary but it’s got to be backed up by the data.”He added: “We are watching the data and discussing it with our scientists and our best advisors almost on an hourly basis. And we will monitor that very carefully. We will keep the situation under review.”He said various factors including vaccinations, antiviral medication and other treatments for Covid-19 mean “the situation today in terms of our defences is very different”.Mr Khan’s intervention on Sunday comes after government scientists warned tougher restrictions were needed before the new year to prevent “considerable pressure” on the NHS amid concern over the Omicron variant.Documents released on Saturday by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) – revealing the bleak advice given to ministers – emerged the government’s official dashboard recorded 90,418 cases of Covid in the UK in the last 24 hours.But the minutes published from a Sage meeting on Thursday stressed that “it is almost certain that there are now hundreds of thousands of new Omicron infections per day” – with the highest rates in London – suggesting that the official figures do not reflect the full picture.The scientists warned that the doubling time of Omicron infections in England was currently around two days – “faster than the growth rate seen in March 2020”.More follows More

Brexit minister Lord Frost ‘resigns from Cabinet’_Original Video_m205537.mp4Brexit minister David Frost has resigned from Boris Johnson’s cabinet in protest at “the direction of travel,” triggering a fresh crisis inside Downing Street after an already turbulent week for the prime minister.Lord Frost – one of the most popular members of the cabinet among the Conservative faithful – handed in his resignation a week ago and had been persuaded to stay in his post until January but last night said he would step down “with immediate effect.”His resignation represents a major political blow for the prime minister who is already facing a series of crises over “gatherings” in No 10 during Covid restrictions, growing discontent on the Tory backbenches over his leadership and this week’s historic loss in the North Shropshire by-election.Meanwhile, Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has said the departure of Lord Frost could bring an opportunity to “press the reset button with the EU”.Former minister Mr Ellwood said: “We’re still not out of the woods with the Northern Ireland Protocol and we have some rather larger decisions and challenges, which actually unite both the EU, Europe and Britain.”He said: “As much as I think this is going to be seen as a hit for the Government, he was a critical character that’s been with Boris Johnson from the very start when it comes to Brexit, this is a chance for us to actually to sort of move forward on our relationship with the EU.”Show latest update

1639925155Sue Gray has ‘freedom’ to investigate own boss during No 10 Christmas party investigationThe senior civil servant newly tasked with leading the inquiry into the alleged Downing St parties which took place while the rest of the country endured Covid-19 restrictions will be able to “go wherever she wants.”Sue Gray has been chosen as the replacement for Cabinet Secretary Simon Case in running the investigation after he was found to have been aware of a gathering in his own department when restrictions were in place.On Sunday the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, said she would have complete freedom in what she investigated in relation to the reports of gatherings.Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Javid said: “She will be able to investigate what she wants. If she wants to investigate one particular individual, whatever…”Asked if she would be allowed to investigate Mr Case, who as head of the civil service is her boss, Mr Javid said: “She has the freedom as I understand to go wherever she wants with this investigation.“That’s the way it should be because people want to know the facts and that this is the best way to establish them.”Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:451639924901Cobra meeting scheduled to take place this afternoon amid omicron fearsCabinet Office minister Steve Barclay will chair a meeting between the government’s emergency committee, Cobra, and the leaders of the devolved nations at 5pm today.Confirmation of the meeting comes shortly after the Health Security Agency announced that 12,133 additional cases of the Omicron variant had been reported across the UK.This brings the total of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 37,101.Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:411639924255Forget Covid passes and masks – there are bigger threats to freedom in Britain right nowThe government is currently pushing through legislation that echoes elements of the authoritarian regimes I have lived and reported under during my career, writes Bel Trew.Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:301639923763Britain records additional 12,000 omicron cases Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:221639923258Lib Dem leader says Tories in ‘real trouble’ following North Shropshire by-election defeatSir Ed Davey has warned the Conservatives are in “real trouble” following their by-election defeat in North Shropshire after the Liberal Democrats took the seat by almost 6,000 votes on Thursday.The Lib Dem leader said there was a “real chance” of getting the Prime Minister out of office in the next election.He told Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News: “We’ve proven that the Conservatives can be beaten anywhere, and I think we’ve confirmed the reality that if we’re going to get Johnson and the Tories out of office, it’s going to take the Liberal Democrats beating Conservative MPs in their blue wall seats.”Sir Ed went on to accuse the Conservatives of “letting people down”.He said: “They have taken people for granted, that is why the Liberal Democrats won in North Shropshire, why indeed we won in Chesham and Amersham, and why I’m so excited about the prospects ahead of us.“I think there’s a real chance of getting Boris Johnson and the Conservatives out of power in the next election and I think the Liberal Democrats have shown the way.”“I do have a smile on my face, I do think there’s new hope for our country and I do think the Conservatives are in real trouble.”Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:141639922455Sajid Javid says he may not hug his mother as much over ChristmasHealth Secretary Sajid Javid said he would be cutting down on hugs from his mother if he visits her over Christmas as he urged caution due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.He told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One: “If I’m going to see my mum, for example, who’s elderly, like most very old people, she’s more vulnerable than younger people.“You know, I will take a test and you know, I might, you know, just have not the usual amount of hugs I get from my mum.“You just take a little bit of caution. I think that’s a sensible response.”Sophie Wingate reports:Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 14:001639921555Watch: Sadiq Khan says further Covid restrictions ‘inevitable’Sadiq Khan says further Covid restrictions ‘inevitable’Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 13:451639920655Piers Corbyn arrested after video online shows him telling people to ‘burn down’ MPs officesAnti-vaxxer Piers Corbyn has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging people to “burn down MP’s offices”, the Met Police have confirmed.He was arrested in Southwark, south London, in the early hours of Sunday.The video shared on social media shows the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticising politicians who voted for Covid restrictions.Corbyn refers to his brother voting against the Goverment’s Plan B in the video, suggesting it was shot on December 15, the day after they were passed by a majority in the Commons.In the video, he says: “We have got to get a bit more physical. It means we have to take down these lying vaccinators and we got to take down these lying MPs and things.“We got to support and welcome all of those who have rebelled or voted against Boris, ie rebelled from the Tories or my brother and his mates – they voted against the measures yesterday, which is a step forward.“We have got to support all those and we’ve got to hammer to death those scum, those scum who have decided to go ahead with introducing new fascism.“You’ve got to get a list of them … and if your MP is one of them, go to their offices and, well, I would recommend burning them down, OK. But I can’t say that on air. I hope we’re not on air.”The comments have been widely condemned, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan calling them “despicable and dangerous”, and Home Secretary Priti Patel describing the video as “sickening”.Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 13:301639919404Work from home guidelines UK: Current government advice explainedEmily Atkinson19 December 2021 13:101639915804Andrew Marr signs off from BBC with Anchorman quoteAndrew Marr has signed off from his long-running BBC politics show with a line from his “mentor” – Anchorman character Ron Burgundy.The veteran broadcaster is leaving the BBC after more than two decades, including 16 years at the helm of his own Sunday morning show.Bringing his final programme to a close, he said: “That it is, all over, I have been so lucky and so privileged to share so many Sunday mornings with you.”Referring to the catchphrase of the fictional news anchor played by Will Ferrell in the 2004 hit comedy, he added: “I have been wondering how to close this final show, but I can’t do better than quoting my great mentor: “You stay classy, San Diego ”Laura Harding has the full story:Emily Atkinson19 December 2021 12:10 More

More clips could emerge from the mock press conference that showed Downing Street staff joking about a Christmas party and led to the resignation of Boris Johnson’s former spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, according to The Mail on Sunday. Officials at No 10 are reportedly in a “state of panic” about the potential release of more footage from the recording. The mock press conference was filmed just days after a Christmas party reportedly took place in No 10. Allegra Stratton, who was asked about the party in the recording, joked that it was “not socially distanced” and said it was a “business meeting”. The release of the press conference footage by ITV News forced Boris Johnson to address rumours about the numerous Christmas parties in the House of Commons. He said he was “sickened and furious” about the leaked video.Now The Mail on Sunday has reported that there could be more clips from the mock press conference that could soon be released. A source told the paper that other questions put to Ms Stratton during the conference included references to the “mistresses” and “love children” of Boris Johnson. They said: “Allegra is of course well aware she was asked more than just the one question we have all seen. “She is feeling very anxious and has totally gone to ground, she is speaking to hardly anyone. “She and former colleagues in Downing Street have convinced themselves that they know the source of the leak. They believe that a confidentiality agreement has been breached. “They are living in fear every day that the rest of the questions put to her will come out, because they know they were filmed. “Any further breach would be in the public interest, so they feel they cannot stop it. “They are just waiting like sitting ducks. To say they are on tenterhooks is an understatement.”The source said that “other mock scenarios included further questions about the mistresses of Boris and his love children.”Another source told the paper that the “No 10 lot” have now established the “alarming fact that there are more tapes just waiting to come out”. More

Health secretary Sajid Javid has refused to rule out further Covid restrictions before Christmas, saying: “There are no guarantees in this pandemic”.His remarks came after government scientists said that tougher Covid restrictions are needed before the new year to prevent “considerable pressure” on the NHS, as rates of the Omicron variant surge.Documents released over the weekend by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) – revealing the bleak advice given to ministers – emerged as the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, declared a “major incident” due to rising infections.On Saturday, the government’s official dashboard recorded 90,418 cases of Covid in the UK in the last 24 hours, while 900 patients had been admitted to hospital. In the capital, 25,551 infections were recorded in a single day.But the minutes published from a Sage meeting on Thursday stressed that “it is almost certain that there are now hundreds of thousands of new Omicron infections per day” – with the highest rates in London – suggesting that the official figures do not reflect the full picture.Asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme to rule out measures before Christmas, Mr Javid replied: “We are assessing the situation, it’s very fast moving, we’ve seen with Omicron there is a lot we still don’t know — that’s the truth about the matter.“The reality is there is a lot of uncertainty, there are gaps in the data,” the health secretary said.Pressed explicitly whether he could rule out a circuit breaker or further restrictions before Christmas — in just under a week — he said: “There are no guarantees in this pandemic, I don’t think. At this point we just have to keep everything under review.”The cabinet minister said now was the “time to be more cautious” and urged people to take lateral flow tests before attending events in the coming days.Describing the minutes from Sage as a “very sobering analysis”, he added: “We take it very seriously. We do have to challenge data and underlying assumptions, I think that is appropriate, and take into account a broader set of facts.”When it was suggested to him he was not ruling out a circuit-breaker or new restrictions before Earlier, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said rates of Covid were surging in the capital leading him to declare a major incident and suggested on Sunday further measures were “inevitable”.He also demanded a “major, major package” of financial support for the hospitality industry if the UK government decides news restrictions are needed.“If we don’t bring in new restrictions sooner rather than later, you’re going to see even more positive cases, and potentially public services like the NHS on the verge of collapse, if not collapsing,” he said.Speaking on Sky News, professor Sir Mark Walport, the government’s former chief scientific adviser, said he believed measures beyond “plan B”, which includes the mandatory use of face masks and Covid passes, were needed.He said infections are “rising fast” and there needs to be time allowed for recently administered vaccines and boosters to take effect.He said: “We need to act to hold down the rate of hospital admissions, reduce the pressure on the workforce – and of course a lot of people are off sick at the moment – and most importantly of all, give people the chance to get vaccinated, to get boosted, and allow time for those vaccinations to have effect.” More

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has been removed from a WhatsApp group of Conservative MPs after praising Boris Johnson, it has been reported. In the exchange on Saturday evening published by Sky News, a number of Tory MPs discussed the impact Brexit minister Lord Frost’s resignation had in a group chat called “clean global Brexit”.Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet and former Northern Ireland secretary, allegedly shared an article about Lord Frost’s departure with the caption “very worrying that Lord Frost has gone”. Andrew Bridgen MP seemed to respond: “Worrying? It’s a disaster. Lord Frost was concerned about the policy direction of the gov. So are most of the Conservative backbenchers.”Marcus Fysh, the MP for Yeovil, reportedly called Frost a “hero” and “100 per cent right on this”, while Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for the Cotswolds, allegedly described the move as “a further hammer blow for the PM”. Culture secretary Ms Dorries then stepped in to stick up for the prime minister calling him a “hero” for delivering Brexit, according to the messages. She added: “I’m aware as someone said today that regicide is in the DNA of Conservative Party, but a bit of loyalty to the person who won an 83 majority and delivered Brexit wouldn’t go amiss.”At this point, a screenshot of the WhatsApp chat shows Steve Baker, one of 28 so-called pro-Brexit “Spartan” MPs, ousting Nadine Dorries from the group. He then wrote “enough is enough” to which Andrew Bridgen MP responded: “About time, thanks Steve.”But later on, minister of state for Northern Ireland Conor Burns, appeared to support Ms Dorries, saying her comments were “absolutely right”. The apparent infighting comes after a bumpy few weeks for Boris Johnson – including the Lib Dem by-election victory in North Shropshire and criticism over alleged lockdown parties. Brexit minister Lord Frost quit over concerns about the high-tax, high-spend direction of his party and new Covid restrictions. More