UK Politics

Few Britons will remember Christmas 2020 with much fondness, recalling a moment of bitter last-minute disappointment, frustration and loneliness, the perfect coda to a year to forget and a prelude to the even bleaker January and February months to follow.The festive plans of millions of people were thwarted, leaving them unable to reunite in person with family and friends in a season ordinarily devoted to togetherness and now once more consigned to Zoom.What made it all the sadder was seeing the brief glimmer of optimism with which December had begun so cruelly snuffed out.The UK had just completed a four-week circuit-breaker lockdown in November in the hope of stemming rising case numbers and securing a festive season without strict social restrictions in place when, on 8 December, Coventry grandmother Margaret Keenan, 91, became the first person in the world to receive a vaccine jab.A genuinely historic moment and a turning point in the fightback against Covid-19, the arrival of the vaccines was supposed to herald the beginning of the end for a plague that had blighted the year and wrought havoc across the world.But a new mutation of the coronavirus discovered in Kent in November and subsequently named the alpha variant by the World Health Organisation had given fresh cause for alarm, proving to be 70 per cent more transmissible than the original variant.Its spread cast a shadow over the promise of the vaccines to liberate the public from lockdowns but the prime minister, Boris Johnson, seemed reluctant to acknowledge the reality of the situation, insisting it would be “inhuman and against the instincts of many people in this country” to “ban” Christmas as he alleged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would like to do, having already levelled the same charge against his opposite number in October.Finally, scientists on the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NervTag) advised him during a meeting with ministers on Friday 18 December that action had become unavoidable.After securing Cabinet sign-off the following morning – on a day in which the UK recorded 27,052 new Covid cases and a further 534 deaths, taking the national death toll since March to 67,075 – Mr Johnson took to his lectern in 10 Downing Street to address the nation.He announced with a “very heavy heart” that he was cutting short the government’s planned five-day restrictions amnesty over the Christmas period allowing households to mix and would be introducing tough new “tier 4” rules for huge swathes of the country, particularly the south east.“As prime minister, it’s my duty to take difficult decisions, to do what is right to protect the people of this country,” his speech began.“Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus and the potential risk it poses, it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.“In England, those living in tier 4 areas should not mix with anyone outside their own household at Christmas, though support bubbles will remain in place, for those at particular risk of loneliness or isolation.”The tier 4 ban on households mixing would cover the whole of inner and outer London, as well as the counties of Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey, excluding Waverley.Peterborough, Portsmouth, Gosport, Havant, Rother and Hastings, as well as the whole of Essex except for Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring, would also be sent into tier 4 and subjected to the Christmas bubble ban.The prime minister continued: “Across the rest of the country, the Christmas rules allowing up to three households to meet will now be limited to Christmas Day only, rather than the five days as previously set out.“I know how much emotion people invest in this time of year, and how important it is, for instance, for grandparents to see their grandchildren and for families to be together.“So I know how disappointing this will be. But we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science. When the science changes, we must change our response.“And when the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence.“And, as your prime minister, I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me. Without action, the evidence suggests infections would soar, hospitals would become overwhelmed and many thousands more would lose their lives.”Asked what message he would send to people who have made plans and spent money to prepare for Christmas, Mr Johnson said: “Of course, we bitterly regret that this is necessary this year. I know how much love and caring thought goes into preparations for Christmas.“I suppose the message is that this is the year to lift a glass to those who aren’t there in the knowledge that it’s precisely because they aren’t there to celebrate Christmas with you this year that we will have a better chance that they’ll be there next year to celebrate Christmas with you.”Speaking for many in response to the announcement was London mayor Sadiq Khan, who expressed his sorrow and sympathy for citizens of the capital and said the city “faces its toughest Christmas since the war”, attacking Mr Johnson for mishandling the pandemic, sowing “chaos and confusion” and making “irresponsible promises” that had raised expectations only to dash them.“There is nothing wrong with the prime minister wanting to save jobs and wanting families to see each other,” The Independent’s editorial read that day. “But this is a matter of character and of judgement, and Mr Johnson has repeatedly been found wanting.”Twelve months later, here we are again.Another new variant – omicron, originating again in late November, this time in southern Africa – is spreading across the country, perhaps at a rate of 200,000 infections per day, as the UK Health Security Agency has indicated.Despite the triumphant rollout of the vaccines over the course of the calendar year, which has seen some 89 per cent of UK adults receive a first jab, 81 per cent receive a second and 41 per cent (and counting) a third booster shot, new restrictions have again had to be introduced and severer ones could be just around the corner.After declaring an end to social distancing and mask-wearing on 19 July, an occasion he unwisely branded “Freedom Day”, Mr Johnson was forced to return to the podium on Saturday 27 November to announce the implementation of “Plan B” measures, reviving mask-wearing in shops and on public transport, adding more countries to the UK travel “red list” and the eventual expansion of the booster vaccine rollout to all adults.While the true extent of the omicron variant was not known at that point – and much still remains uncertain given the present scarcity of data – the PM was forced to further tighten the rules on Wednesday 8 December.Taking a brief respite from firefighting Tory scandals over second jobs, the refurbishment of his flat and office Christmas parties his team are alleged to have held the previous December – just days before he cancelled the Christmas plans of voters – Mr Johnson extended the mask remit to cinemas, theatres and places of worship, asked people to work from home where possible and made NHS Covid passes mandatory for entry to crowded venues.Cases now are double what they were a year ago – 54,661 were recorded on Monday 13 December alone – but deaths and hospitalisations are much lower thanks to the vaccines.However, the highly transmissible omicron variant could soon cause those numbers to rise too, particularly if it does prove to be significantly vaccine-resistant, as feared.Should the UK indeed see a “tidal wave” of omicron infections, as Mr Johnson has warned, the NHS could once more be overwhelmed, a development that would have grave consequences indeed.Speaking on Monday during a visit to a vaccination clinic in west London, Mr Johnson announced the first death from omicron and said: “I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that’s something we need to set on one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population.”He continued: “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been at great pains to stress to the public that we have to watch where the pandemic is going and we take whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.“We think the steps that we are taking – so Plan B, combined with a hugely ambitious acceleration of the booster campaign, bringing it forward by a month… We think that’s the right approach.”He declined, however, to commit to not introducing further restrictions before Christmas, clearing the way for history to repeat itself. 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A Covid expert has poured scorn on government claims that omicron infections have reached 200,000 a day, branding the figure implausible.Ministers have failed to explain how the estimate – announced by health secretary Sajid Javid one day before a huge Tory revolt against the Plan B restrictions – was calculated.Now David Spiegelhalter, a statistician at the University of Cambridge, has attacked the sudden use of the figure – suggesting the real daily tally was 45,000 new cases on Monday.“It’s bit naughty to give this number without having a justification behind it,” Prof Spiegelhalter said.“It’s not based on the published modelling that came out from UK Health Security Agency a few days ago.“If you put that through their model it comes to 45,000 infections yesterday – which is high, but does seem more plausible.”The professor of the public understanding of risk, and a regular commentator on pandemic modelling, added: “From what has been made public, I can’t see how you can derive this number.”The latest estimate is that omicron cases are doubling every 2-3 days – the reason why Plan B curbs are coming in – which implies 1.2 million new infections by Christmas Day.But Prof Spiegelhalter suggested a tailing off is inevitable, telling BBC Radio 4: “Whatever the line is, it’s got to curve over sometime – because we are not going to get up to these vast numbers of millions of people getting it every day.”After the shock of the 200,000 figure put out by Mr Javid, his officials were unable to explain how it had been calculated, other than to say it is based on “modelling”.Omicron is believed to make up around one-fifth of all Covid cases, but as many as 44 per cent in London, the UK hotspot for the new variant.It is expected to become the dominant strain in the capital by the end of Wednesday at the latest, Mr Javid told MPs on Monday.However, the government is struggling to persuade its own MPs to back curbs already introduced – let alone more severe measures many are calling for before Christmas.Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, warned the cabinet to expect a “significant increase” in hospitalisation, while hospital leaders warn parts of the NHS are already “beyond full stretch”.But around 70 Tory MPs have signalled they will vote against Covid passes for crowded venues – with less opposition against the extension of mask-wearing to cinemas and theatres.It is not the first time Prof Spiegelhalter has criticised the government’s use of Covid statistics as the pandemic is progressed.Last May, he attacked the announcement of “unreliable” daily test totals, as “number theatre”, when the public was crying out for “proper detail”. More

Bars and pubs with dancefloors will be required to check people’s Covid passes, but only after 1am, according to new regulations for England published by the government. The imminent introduction of Covid passes – predominately for large venues, including nightclubs – forms a key part of the government’s “plan B” measures that ministers hope will curb the spread of Covid and the new omicron variant.The measures will be voted on later on Tuesday in the Commons and are almost certain to come into force on Wednesday – despite the prospect of Boris Johnson facing the biggest revolt of his premiership.Dozens of Tory MPs have indicated they will either vote against or abstain on plans for a Covid pass, forcing the prime minister to rely on support from Sir Keir’s Starmer’s Labour in order to get the public health measures through the Commons.Under the plans people going to nightclubs and dance halls, alongside mass-audience events, will be required to show a Covid pass – displaying evidence of either two jabs or a recent negative test – as a condition of entry.However, the newly published regulations also make clear that other “late night dance venues” will also be required to use the pass.The government has defined these venues as anywhere that opens betweens 1am-5am, serves alcohol after 1am, has a dance floor or space for dancing, and provides music, whether live or recorded, for dancing.Using an example, the government’s website states: “A bar is open throughout the day and stays open later than 1am. It meets the criteria for mandatory use of the NHS Covid pass (because it provides music and a dance floor, serves alcohol and stays open later than 1am).“The manager is not required to check the Covid-19 status of anyone who leaves the venue before 1am but must take reasonable measures to ensure that everyone who remains in, or enters, the premises after 1am has the NHS Covid pass.”It adds that venues may either choose to check all visitors for the entire time of opening or check all visitors who remain in the venue immediately before 1am.Under the regulations, people who use fake Covid passes also face fines of £10,000 under a new criminal offence, which could also see businesses shut down by councils if they fail to comply with the rules or show they are carrying out suitable checks on customers attending events.The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021 make it an offence to make, adapt, supply or offer to supply “false evidence of Covid status to another person” which is known to be “false or misleading” as of 6am on Wednesday.Venues which do not comply with rules on carrying out checks or ignore improvement or closure notices issued by councils could be fined £1,000 in the first instance, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days.This increases to £2,000 and £4,000 for second and third offences and jumping to £10,000 for fourth or any subsequent offences thereafter. More

Nicola Sturgeon has urged people across Scotland to limit their socialising to three households before and after Christmas to help combat the spread of the omicron Covid variant.Scotland’s first minister stressed she was not introducing new legal rules at this stage – but advised Scots to mix with only two other households, at home or in indoor public places, on either side of the festive holiday.“I am not asking anyone to cancel Christmas,” Ms Sturgeon said on Tuesday. “We are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three.”Setting out the new guidance north of the border, the SNP leader insisted that she was not asking Scots to cancel their Christmas Day, Christmas Eve or Boxing Day plans. “And we are not proposing limits on the size of household gatherings,” she added.Speaking in the Scottish parliament she said: “My key request today is this: before and immediately after Christmas, please minimise your social mixing with other households as much as you can.She added: “However, if you do plan on socialising, either at home or in indoor public places, we are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three.”Ms Sturgeon also announced that allowing staff to work from home where possible will again become a legal duty on employers in Scotland.Other new measures taken by the Scottish government to tackle the spread of omicron mean businesses must “return to the kind of protections in place at the start of the pandemic”, said the first minister.New legal requirements mean shops in Scotland will have to enforce social distancing and put up protective screens. Pubs, bars and restaurants will also have to take measures to avoid crowding, and make sure customers details are taken for contact tracing.On the vaccine booster scheme, Ms Sturgeon said all over-18s in Scotland should be able to book appointments online from Wednesday – but the first minister said she could not guarantee all adults would be able to be vaccinated by the new year.Ms Sturgeon said omicron cases are “increasing exponentially – faster than any variant that has gone before it”, as Scotland has recorded 110 confirmed new cases of the variant in the past 24 hours, taking the overall number to 296.New measures in Scotland come as Downing Street insisted that no further Covid curbs were being planned in England.Boris Johnson warned a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he believes a “huge spike” of cases of the variant will hit the nation, while England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned ministers to brace for a “significant increase in hospitalisations” from omicron.No 10 did not reject a suggestion that new Omicron cases could hit a million per day next week based on a “valid” estimate from the UK Health Security Agency that daily infections are currently around 200,000. More

British lawmakers will vote Tuesday on whether to approve new restrictions to curb the spread of the omicron variant — and many will have more than public health on their minds when they say yes or no.The votes are also an opportunity to express unhappiness with embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson whose approval ratings — both with voters and inside his own Conservative Party — have plunged amid ethics scandals and allegations the government breached its own pandemic restrictions.The House of Commons is voting on measures that take effect this week, ordering masks to be worn indoors in England, changing rules on self-isolation and — contentiously — requiring proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to enter nightclubs and large crowded events.Vaccine passes have become commonplace in many European countries, but Johnson’s government has resisted introducing them in England, although the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which set their own health rules, have done so.The British government argues that the highly transmissible omicron strain has changed the argument, and vaccine passes are now a sensible measure.“Omicron is a grave threat,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers. “Scientists have never seen a COVID-19 variant that is capable of spreading so rapidly. So we have to look at what we can do to slow omicron’s advance.”Many Conservative legislators, however, argue that vaccine passports are economically damaging and a restriction on individual freedoms. One right-wing lawmaker, Marcus Fysh, went so far as to compare the plan to Nazi Germany.Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab called that comparison “crass.”Raab said the virus restrictions “are a proportionate, targeted approach, given what we don’t know and the precautionary approach we need to take, just temporarily, while we get to grips with omicron.”Others argue that the vaccine pass proposal will do little to stop the spread of the virus. Conservative legislator Tobias Ellwood said the plan was “illogical” because the emergence of the more vaccine-resistant omicron variant means double vaccination is no longer a firm guarantee against infection.Dozens of Conservatives could rebel against the government on Tuesday, though the measures are still highly likely to pass because the opposition Labour Party supports them.The vote is a sign of growing discontent in Conservative ranks with Johnson. The party picked him to be leader in 2019 because he promised to “get Brexit done” after three years of gridlock over Britain’s departure from the European Union under Prime Minister Theresa May. The same promise helped Johnson win a December 2019 election with an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons, the biggest for any Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.Since then the pandemic and a series of scandals have chipped away at the support for Johnson and his government. Johnson’s initial reluctance to impose a nationwide lockdown in early 2020 helped give the U.K. the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe apart from Russia, with more than 146,000 deaths. A successful vaccination program helped Johnson recover some of his authority, but his government has faced damaging allegations that it flouted the coronavirus rules it imposed on everyone else with reports that Johnson’s 10 Downing St. office held lockdown-breaching Christmas parties last year. Johnson has ordered an inquiry, but insists he personally broke no rules.The government also faced charges of cronyism when it tried to block the suspension of a Conservative lawmaker found to have broken lobbying rules by advocating on behalf of two companies who were paying him. The government changed tack after an outcry and the lawmaker, Owen Paterson, resigned.A special election on Thursday to replace Paterson could add to Johnson’s woes. Polls suggest the opposition Liberal Democrats may take the seat from the Conservatives. Nationally, the opposition Labour Party has opened up a strong lead in opinion polls.Since a national election is not scheduled until 2024, the danger for Johnson comes largely from his own party. The Conservatives have a long history of dumping leaders when they become unpopular.“Clearly, he is in trouble,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London “The question is whether that trouble is terminal or not. “I doubt whether he is in any immediate danger — he will still be there by Christmas. But I think the new year will be an interesting few months.”___Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. More

Raab refuses to rule out tougher Covid measures before Christmas-.mp4Thursday’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. Show latest update

1639492921Sturgeon 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: Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 14:421639492167UK 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.”Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 14:291639491778Health secretary announces Plan B Covid measuresHealth 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. Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 14:221639490871Man detained for attempting to drive car through parliament gatesA 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.Zoe Tidman14 December 2021 14:071639490286Government guilty of ‘growing authoritarianism’, says Labour MPBoris 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”. Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 13:581639489217Rachel Reeves test positive for Covid-19Shadow 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.
Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 13:401639488206Human 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: Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 13:231639486913Human rights ‘not safe in Tory hands’, says Caroline LucasThe 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. Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 13:011639486468Raab reveals Human Rights Act proposalDominic 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. Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 12:541639486114No 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: Rory Sullivan14 December 2021 12:48 More