Inside Politics: PM considering curbs on social contact to stop omicron

Fears more measures could be brought in before Christmas day as infections continue to spiral, writes Matt Mathers

Monday 20 December 2021 08:28 GMT

(PA)

Boris Johnson is under major pressure on two fronts this morning, as experts call for more Covid curbs to slow the spread of omicron following yet more dire modelling on deaths and the publishing of a photo showing him and staff enjoying wine in the garden of Downing Street during lockdown last year. Elsewhere Lizz Truss, the foreign secretary, is taking over Brexit talks following the resignation of Lord Frost, who quit over the weekend in protest at the government’s direction of travel on several other non-Brexit related.

Inside the bubble

Parliament is in recess

Coming up:

– Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab on BBC Radio 4 Today at 8.10am

– Spi-B member Susan Michie on Times Radio Breakfast at 8.15am

Daily Briefing

GRIM WARNINGS: Appearing on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday Sajid Javid, the health secretary, known as a lockdown sceptic, refused to rule out bringing in further restrictions before Christmas, as the omicron variant continues to spread rapidly throughout the country. Following more dire — and it should be noted worst-case scenario — modelling by Sage predicting hundreds of thousands of daily infections and up to 6,000 daily deaths, Javid said “there are no guarantees in this pandemic... At this point, we just have to keep everything under review,” when asked if he could rule out a circuit-breaker before the big day.

WHAT NEXT?: It is reported that several cabinet members want to see more information before backing fresh curbs, although Javid said it might be too late by the time a full and clear picture is available. Labour says it is essential that government supports businesses, many of them in the hospitality sector facing the real prospect of going bust more rules are brought in. Reports this morning say Rishi Sunak, the chancellor who with the PM was absent from yesterday’s Cobra meeting on Covid, is said to be resisting restrictions before Christmas. The PM, said to be considering a range of options that would limit social activity — including on Christmas Day itself — meets with his cabinet later. We’ll have live pandemic updates throughout the day here.

SAY CHEESE: It is difficult to know where to start with the latest partygate report, but here goes. The PM is once again facing serious questions about potentially lockdown-busting social gatherings after a photo emerged showing him and staff enjoying cheese and wine in the Downing Street garden last year while Covid restrictions were in place. In the snap, reportedly taken on 15 May last year while there were limits on socialising, Johnson can be seen sitting around a garden table with his then-fiancee Carrie, and two members of staff. On the table are bottles of wine and a cheeseboard. In an absolute gift to the Labour Party, which has been hammering the “one rule for them” attacks, No 10 last night claimed the gathering was actually a work meeting. “I guess staff meetings look a bit different if you went to Eton?” the party deputy leader, Angela Rayner said. “Enough is enough. Tell us the truth about what was going on in Downing Street from the very beginning immediately @BorisJohnson.”

OH DEAR: As if the picture wasn’t enough it later emerged that (if reports are correct) the PM’s principal private secretary, Martin Reynolds, was one of those in attendance. It has previously been reported that Reynolds is involved in Downing Street’s investigation into party reports and is said to have ordered staff not to delete evidence and to cooperate with the probe. Oh dear. The plot thickened when Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor, suggested in a mischievous tweet that the photo of the gathering was taken from No 11 — where Sunak works.

FREXIT: Following Lord David Frost’s stunning resignation from government in protest at the direction of the Tories under Johnson, ex-Remainer Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, is now in charge of Brexit talks and the poisoned chalice of the Northern Ireland protocol 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. The appointment of Truss, who has consistently topped surveys as the most popular cabinet minister among the Tory faithful, will be seen as an attempt by the PM to stabilise his administration after weeks of turmoil on multiple fronts. The resignation of Frost was another hammer blow for Johnson, who is fighting fires on several fronts over Covid, parties and a by-election defeat. Frost’s quitting also just so happened to come days after a major UK climbdown on the role of the European Court of Justice.

On the record

“The picture shows colleagues meeting in a place of work.”

PM’s spokesperson on photo of Downing Street gathering.

From the Twitterati

“COBRAs don’t have to be chaired by the PM, of course. But it is generally the view of the devolved governments that given the seriousness of the moment he ought to.”