This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/dec/13/uk-covid-live-nhs-appointments-postponed-help-omicron-booster-jabs-boris-johnson-latest-updates

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
UK Covid live: 1,576 new Omicron cases detected as patients in hospital with new variant aged 18-85 UK Covid live: Sajid Javid addresses MPs after 1,576 new Omicron cases detected
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates: new variant cases rise 50% in a day to 4,713; Omicron patients hospitalised in England aged between 18 and 85, UKHSA says Latest updates: health secretary speaks in Commons; variant cases rise 50% in a day to 4,713 as patients hospitalised in England are aged 18 to 85
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, starts by expressing his disappointment that Boris Johnson is not making this statement himself.
He says given the PM made a TV statement last night he should have been here in person.
He says he is really, really disappointed TV is taking precedence over the Commons.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, is about to make a statement to MPs about Covid.
These are from two journalists reporting bad experiences with vaccine walk-in centres.
From the Sunday Times’ Shaun Lintern earlier
From my colleague Nicola Davis now
There’s been a fantastic start to the Guardian and Observer 2021 charity appeal, with readers donating more than £100,000 to our Climate Justice campaign during its opening weekend.
This year the appeal is supporting four great charities tackling the human impact of climate crisis and extreme weather: Practical Action, Environmental Justice Foundation, Global Greengrants Fund UK, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The focus of the appeal is on projects helping individuals and communities in some of the world’s poorest countries who find themselves bearing the brunt of the climate emergency.
As the Guardian’s editor-in chief Katharine Viner explained in her introduction to the appeal:
The appeal runs until early January. You can find out more about our charities here.
Donations can be made online by credit card, debit card or PayPal, or by phone on 0151 284 1126.
Layla Moran, the Lib Dem MP who chairs the all-party parliamentry group on coronavirus, has said the website problems people have been having today with ordering lateral flow tests or booking booster jabs suggest little planning went into Boris Johnson’s announcement last night. She said:
Fraser Nelson says the Spectator’s tally of Tory MPs who are set or likely to rebel in the vote on the new Covid measures tomorrow has reached 77.
Nelson says this is two of 79, the government’s current working majority. But the government is in no danger of losing tomorrow, because Labour is voting for the measures.
And, in a division where all the opposition parties are voting against, the majority total is a red herring; only half that number plus one (40 Tories) would have to vote with the opposition parties for the government to lose.
Ipsos Mori has published its latest monthly political monitor polling survey, and it suggests that, in the wake of the partygate controversy, Boris Johnson’s ratings have slumped, and Keir Starmer is now ahead of him by 13 points on the question of who would make the most capable prime minister.
The firm says this is the first time a Labour leader has been ahead on this measure since January 2008.
Dylan Spielman from Ipsos Mori says John Major is the only PM to have worse approval ratings at this stage in his premiership.
But Margaret Thatcher’s ratings were almost as low at this point in her premiership, Spielman points out, and she went on to win two more elections.
Jim Reed, the BBC’s health reporter, says the government is planning to drop the requirement for people to stay in a vaccine centre for 15 minutes after having a Pfizer or Moderna jab to make sure they don’t suffer an adverse reaction.Jim Reed, the BBC’s health reporter, says the government is planning to drop the requirement for people to stay in a vaccine centre for 15 minutes after having a Pfizer or Moderna jab to make sure they don’t suffer an adverse reaction.
Prof Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care at Imperial College London, said earlier that this change would speed up the through-put at vaccination clinics.Prof Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care at Imperial College London, said earlier that this change would speed up the through-put at vaccination clinics.
The UK Health Security Agency has also released a little more information about the 10 patients hospitalised with a confirmed case of Omicron in England, one of whom has died. (See 11.55am.)The UK Health Security Agency has also released a little more information about the 10 patients hospitalised with a confirmed case of Omicron in England, one of whom has died. (See 11.55am.)
The Conservative MP Marcus Fysh told the BBC earlier today that he would not be voting for the introduction of Covid passport for large venues in England because he did not want to live in a “papers please” society.The Conservative MP Marcus Fysh told the BBC earlier today that he would not be voting for the introduction of Covid passport for large venues in England because he did not want to live in a “papers please” society.
Displaying a cavalier disregard for Godwin’s law, Fysh told Radio 5 Live.Displaying a cavalier disregard for Godwin’s law, Fysh told Radio 5 Live.
NHS Digital says 290,000 people have now booked a vaccine appointment on its website. In response to questions about why the website has been overwhelmed with demand, a spokesperson said:NHS Digital says 290,000 people have now booked a vaccine appointment on its website. In response to questions about why the website has been overwhelmed with demand, a spokesperson said:
The UK Health Security Agency has said the number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK has risen by 1,576 from yesterday and is now 4,713. That is a 50% increase.
Here is the clip of Boris Johnson responding to questions about his participation in a Downing Street Christmas quiz on 15 December last year when he was interviewed this morning. In it, he clearly said that Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, would be able to look at this event in his review of No 10 parties, and whether they broke lockdown rules.
But as Sky’s Beth Rigby, who interviewed Johnson, points out, the PM also seems to have shifted his line on wrongdoing at No 10 last Christmas. He is now stressing that he personally broke no rules. “I certainly broke no rules,” he said.
Until now the line from No 10 has been that no rules were broken last year. Now Johnson seems to be implying that perhaps others did break the rules. Case was looking into “all these things’, Johnson said.
Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief adviser who, since his departure from No 10, has become one of his most vehement critics, thinks this means Johnson is preparing to dump the blame for partygate on others.
Almost half of “outstanding” schools in England have been downgraded by Ofsted following inspection this term, with more than one in 10 dropping to “requires improvement” or even “inadequate”, according to data published today.
Outstanding schools were until recently exempt from regular inspection, so many have not been visited by the schools inspectorate for up to 10 years or more.
They are however likely to feel aggrieved at being downgraded at a time of widespread disruption in schools due to Covid.
Data published by Ofsted today shows that during the three months up to the end of November 47% of schools previously rated outstanding have lost their top rating following inspection this term. Ofsted said the data relates to 99 previously outstanding schools visited by inspectors during the autumn term.
According to Ofsted, 36% of these schools were downgraded to “good”, 9% went down two rankings to “requires improvement” and 2% were judged “inadequate” which is the lowest possible ranking.
The overall grade profile for schools has, however, improved overall, Ofsted said, with 83% of schools judged good or outstanding between September and November this year, compared with 77% between September 2019 and March 2020 when inspections were suspended due to the pandemic.
This is from Humza Yousaf, the Scottish government’s health secretary, on the lateral flow test supply problems.
The Downing Street lobby briefing was dominated by questions about Covid this morning. Here are the key points.
No 10 said that lateral flow tests had not run out, and that people could not order them today because of postal problems that were being addressed. (See 1pm.)
Downing Street said “further capacity” was being added to make it easier for people to book booster appointments on the NHS website. Asked about the problems being encountered today (see 10.46am), the PM’s spokesman said:
The spokesman also said 110,000 people booked a booster before 9am this morning.
The spokesman did not rule out the government introducing tougher restrictions over Christmas during the parliamentary recess. He said that all options were kept under review and that “in extremis” the government could introduce public health measures without a vote in parliament first.
He said that the government’s aim was for all adults to get a booster jab before the end of the year, not just to be able to book one.
He said booster jabs should be available on Christmas Day. He said:
Last year vaccines were available on Christmas Day, he said, although “we didn’t see a huge demand”.
The spokesman said around 750 troops had been mobilised to support the booster programme, as well as 50 military planning experts working centrally.
He said the government was still waiting for approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency before going ahead with vaccines for under-12s.
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, has claimed the problems people are having ordering lateral flow tests from the government website today show Boris Johnson has got his priorities wrong.
This is what the UK Health Security Agency said about the problems people are having today ordering lateral flow tests from the government’s website. A spokesperson said:
Information about how to collect a lateral flow test from a nearby pharmacy is available on the NHS website here.
In the Commons a Home Office minister will respond to an urgent question from Labour’s Dame Margaret Hodge at 3.30pm about the Met failings in the Stephen Port case. That means the Sajid Javid statement on Covid will start at about 4.15pm.
The number of people using 16 major railway stations in England and Scotland between 6am and 9.30am on Monday was down compared with the previous week, PA Media reports. PA says:
Today the new advice in England to work from home if possible came into effect.
Nigel Farage, the former Ukip and Brexit party who is now a GB News presenter, but who claims to be mulling over a politcal comeback, claims that Boris Johnson is just talking up the threat from Omicron as a “cynical ploy” to save his career.