Covid infections ‘will rise’ because of Christmas bubble plan, minister admits

‘We have to trust people’ over five-day easing, says communities secretary Robert Jenrick

Boris Johnson’s government will not be changing the “legal framework” that allows people to form extended bubbles at Christmas, one of his senior ministers has confirmed.

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick said Downing Street is sticking with its plan to allow three households to get together between 23 and 27 December, despite admitting the easing in restrictions will lead to an increase in the infection rate.

Asked on Wednesday morning if the holiday rules would remain in place, Mr Jenrick said: “Yes. The law remains unchanged – we have and will be providing guidance, and that guidance will reflect the fact cases are rising in many parts of the country.

“We want everybody in the country to have those conversations around the breakfast table this morning and in the days ahead, and decide what’s sensible for them and their family,” the minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He added: “I don’t think the government can legislate for every eventuality – we have to trust people on this occasion to come to their own informed judgement.”

However, Mr Jenrick admitted the relaxing of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas would lead to a rise in the infection rate. “This is a virus that thrives on social interaction, so bringing more people together, even over this short period of time, is not cost-free. It will have consequences in terms of increasing the rate of infection,” he told Sky News.

In a shift in the government’s message, the minister urged people to reconsider whether it was worth taking a risk to visit family next week. Mr Jenrick said his own parents, in their 80s, had already chosen not to visit him over Christmas.

“I think the vaccine rollout has changed conversations for many people – because it’s given hope that early in the new year, if not before, those people will be vaccinated,” he said. “And so why not wait a few weeks or months to get the family together when you can do so safely in 2021?”

Mr Jenrick suggested that some people may decide to “keep it small” and put off larger gatherings until the spring, saying: “Easter can be the new Christmas.”

Challenged on why the government did not change the rules – as many public health experts have recommended – if ministers did not want people to meet up with family, Mr Jenrick claimed it could be “counter-productive to be overly restrictive”.

Asked if No 10 simply wanted to avoid bad headlines about cancelling Christmas, Mr Jenrick said: “No, absolutely not – we’ve consistently made difficult decisions.”  

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will resume crisis talks over the holiday plan with leaders of the devolved administrations on Wednesday morning. A UK government source acknowledged the four nations may take differing approaches, but insisted there would be no change in the law for the festive freedoms in England.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said people should be thinking about changing their Christmas plans and not travelling to see relatives – and made clear he didn’t agree with the five-day bubble plan.

Asked on the Today programme if not travelling over the festive period should be the “firm” advice, he said: “I think that’s where we are heading. I think it is potentially difficult now to change the plans that people have made.

“But I think that the strong messaging does have to come in, and I think people should now be thinking about changing their plans; I just think that is where we are. It always was the case that five days, three households, in my view, was too much.”

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon argued on Tuesday that there is a case for “tightening” the planned freedoms and indicated she could break with the four-nation approach. Ms Sturgeon also suggested face-to-face office Christmas parties in Scotland be postponed until the summer.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said Christmas celebrations should be held in the “most modest way possible” if it is necessary to mix households.

She told BBC Breakfast: “I think people need to be incredibly cautious if they’re about to take advantage of this and really try and ask themselves do they need to do it and if they do how do they reduce the risk.”