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| Boris Johnson says people should not cancel Christmas parties over Omicron – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM says government does not want people to cancel events such as Christmas parties and nativity plays | PM says government does not want people to cancel events such as Christmas parties and nativity plays |
| Every eligible adult in the UK should be offered a Covid booster by the end of January as ministers race to increase protection against the Omicron variant, Boris Johnson has announced. | Every eligible adult in the UK should be offered a Covid booster by the end of January as ministers race to increase protection against the Omicron variant, Boris Johnson has announced. |
| Johnson has said he does not want people to cancel Christmas parties or school nativity plays because of concerns about Omicron. When asked about people cancelling these at this press conference, he replied: | Johnson has said he does not want people to cancel Christmas parties or school nativity plays because of concerns about Omicron. When asked about people cancelling these at this press conference, he replied: |
| Earlier Johnson made it clear that he disagreed with Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, who used an interview on the Today programme to say that people should avoid unnecessary socialising before Christmas. (See 1.02pm.) | Earlier Johnson made it clear that he disagreed with Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, who used an interview on the Today programme to say that people should avoid unnecessary socialising before Christmas. (See 1.02pm.) |
| MPs have approved tougher Covid rules that came into force overnight making masks mandatory in more places in England and changing isolation requirements due to concern over the Omicron variant. | MPs have approved tougher Covid rules that came into force overnight making masks mandatory in more places in England and changing isolation requirements due to concern over the Omicron variant. |
| Eight more cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency said. | Eight more cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency said. |
| All nine cases of the Omicron variant in Scotland trace back to a “single private event” held on 20 November, Nicola Sturgeon has told the Holyrood parliament in her weekly Covid update. | All nine cases of the Omicron variant in Scotland trace back to a “single private event” held on 20 November, Nicola Sturgeon has told the Holyrood parliament in her weekly Covid update. |
| The energy regulator has promised to enact tougher stress tests for energy suppliers to prove they have the financial strength to weather a surge in energy market prices – with consequences for suppliers which fail. | The energy regulator has promised to enact tougher stress tests for energy suppliers to prove they have the financial strength to weather a surge in energy market prices – with consequences for suppliers which fail. |
| The Northern Ireland Brexit protocol has not “shattered” the constitutional status of Northern Ireland within the UK, as some unionists have argued, a government lawyer has told a court in Belfast. | The Northern Ireland Brexit protocol has not “shattered” the constitutional status of Northern Ireland within the UK, as some unionists have argued, a government lawyer has told a court in Belfast. |
| In the Commons the first Conservative backbencher to speak in defence of Boris Johnson in the debate on the SNP motion censuring Boris Johnson (see 5.27pm) was Matt Hancock, who was forced to resign as health secretary earlier this year for ignoring lockdown rules. Like Michael Ellis, he did not engage in the arguments about Johnson’s honesty but instead devoted his speech to attacking the SNP. | In the Commons the first Conservative backbencher to speak in defence of Boris Johnson in the debate on the SNP motion censuring Boris Johnson (see 5.27pm) was Matt Hancock, who was forced to resign as health secretary earlier this year for ignoring lockdown rules. Like Michael Ellis, he did not engage in the arguments about Johnson’s honesty but instead devoted his speech to attacking the SNP. |
| In the Commons MPs are now debating a censure motion against Boris Johnson tabled by the SNP. This is what it says. | In the Commons MPs are now debating a censure motion against Boris Johnson tabled by the SNP. This is what it says. |
| The sixth principle of public life is honesty. | The sixth principle of public life is honesty. |
| Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, opened the debate. He said Johnson needed to be censured because otherwise he would think he could get away with breaking the rules. He said: | Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, opened the debate. He said Johnson needed to be censured because otherwise he would think he could get away with breaking the rules. He said: |
| Blackford also said Johnson had shown himself to be a liar. | Blackford also said Johnson had shown himself to be a liar. |
| MPs are normally not allowed to call each other liars in the chamber. But Blackford was allowed to use it on this occasion because Johnson’s honesty was the topic for debate, although Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy Speaker, urged Blackford and other MPs to avoid “intemperate abuse”. | MPs are normally not allowed to call each other liars in the chamber. But Blackford was allowed to use it on this occasion because Johnson’s honesty was the topic for debate, although Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy Speaker, urged Blackford and other MPs to avoid “intemperate abuse”. |
| Michael Ellis, paymaster general in the Cabinet Office, responded for the government. He ignored the terms of the motion almost completely and instead just spoke about the PM’s “large litany of achievement”, such as Brexit, while also defending the union. | Michael Ellis, paymaster general in the Cabinet Office, responded for the government. He ignored the terms of the motion almost completely and instead just spoke about the PM’s “large litany of achievement”, such as Brexit, while also defending the union. |
| Anneliese Dodds, the Labour party chair, is speaking now, but, as is common when the opposition day debate is allocated to the SNP, the Labour benches are virtually empty because their MPs are staying away. | Anneliese Dodds, the Labour party chair, is speaking now, but, as is common when the opposition day debate is allocated to the SNP, the Labour benches are virtually empty because their MPs are staying away. |
| In his opening comments at the press conference Boris Johnson said that the government wanted all adults to be offered a booster vaccine by the end of January. | In his opening comments at the press conference Boris Johnson said that the government wanted all adults to be offered a booster vaccine by the end of January. |
| At one point in an earlier post I said he implied people would all get them by the end of January, but he just talked about people being offered one by then. | At one point in an earlier post I said he implied people would all get them by the end of January, but he just talked about people being offered one by then. |
| Here is my colleague Heather Stewart’s story about the offer. | Here is my colleague Heather Stewart’s story about the offer. |
| While the press conference was going on MPs voted for the second set of new Covid rules for England, requiring close contacts of people who are confirmed or suspected to have had the Omicron variant, to isolate for up to 10 days, by 431 votes to 36 – a majority of 395. | While the press conference was going on MPs voted for the second set of new Covid rules for England, requiring close contacts of people who are confirmed or suspected to have had the Omicron variant, to isolate for up to 10 days, by 431 votes to 36 – a majority of 395. |
| According to the parliamentary website, 32 Conservative MPs and three DUP MPs voted against. They are listed here. | According to the parliamentary website, 32 Conservative MPs and three DUP MPs voted against. They are listed here. |
| Again, the numbers don’t quite tally, for reasons that are not clear. | Again, the numbers don’t quite tally, for reasons that are not clear. |
| Johnson ends by talking about Storm Arwen. He says no one asked about it. But he says he wants to reassure people who have lost power that everything possible is being done to get the power back up. He says he recognises how tough it will have been for people. | Johnson ends by talking about Storm Arwen. He says no one asked about it. But he says he wants to reassure people who have lost power that everything possible is being done to get the power back up. He says he recognises how tough it will have been for people. |
| Q: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all advising people to work from home. Why are you taking a different view? | Q: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all advising people to work from home. Why are you taking a different view? |
| Johnson says the government does not think that is necessary. A package of measures is in place to deal with Delta. They are rolling out the vaccine, and it is working. | Johnson says the government does not think that is necessary. A package of measures is in place to deal with Delta. They are rolling out the vaccine, and it is working. |
| There is a particular issue with Omicron, and they are focusing on tough measures at the border. | There is a particular issue with Omicron, and they are focusing on tough measures at the border. |
| They are also introducing face coverings in some settings. | They are also introducing face coverings in some settings. |
| He says they want to take a balanced and proportionate approach to Omicron. | He says they want to take a balanced and proportionate approach to Omicron. |
| They are waiting for evidence about how effective the vaccines and the boosters are against it. There are good grounds for thinking the boosters will give the protection people need. | They are waiting for evidence about how effective the vaccines and the boosters are against it. There are good grounds for thinking the boosters will give the protection people need. |
| Johnson says at the moment they see no need to move to plan B. But that has not been ruled out. | Johnson says at the moment they see no need to move to plan B. But that has not been ruled out. |
| Q: Is there a risk of another “pingdemic”? | Q: Is there a risk of another “pingdemic”? |
| Johnson says he does not think that is likely. Currently the Omicron case numbers are small, he says. | Johnson says he does not think that is likely. Currently the Omicron case numbers are small, he says. |
| Q: People are cancelling nativity plays and Christmas parties. Are they over-reacting? | Q: People are cancelling nativity plays and Christmas parties. Are they over-reacting? |
| Johnson says they do not want people to cancel events like Christmas parties and nativity plays. | Johnson says they do not want people to cancel events like Christmas parties and nativity plays. |
| Pritchard urges people to think about volunteering for the vaccine programme. The volunteer staff have been critical, she says. | Pritchard urges people to think about volunteering for the vaccine programme. The volunteer staff have been critical, she says. |
| Q: Is there community transmission of Omicron? | Q: Is there community transmission of Omicron? |
| Javid says the cases revealed at the weekend were linked to South Africa. He says they do not know if that is the case for the cases announced today. But he says they have to be realistic about the likelihood that community transmission is taking place. | Javid says the cases revealed at the weekend were linked to South Africa. He says they do not know if that is the case for the cases announced today. But he says they have to be realistic about the likelihood that community transmission is taking place. |
| Q: Do you have enough vaccine in stock for the booster programme? | Q: Do you have enough vaccine in stock for the booster programme? |
| Pritchard says she is absolutely reassured that they have the vaccine stock they need. | Pritchard says she is absolutely reassured that they have the vaccine stock they need. |
| Q: Would you advise people to use medical-grade masks? | Q: Would you advise people to use medical-grade masks? |
| Javid says they see no need to change the current advice on masks. | Javid says they see no need to change the current advice on masks. |
| Q: Can you give people some hope that this will not go on? | Q: Can you give people some hope that this will not go on? |
| Johnson says the measures put in place will not last a minute longer than is needed. | Johnson says the measures put in place will not last a minute longer than is needed. |