Rishi Sunak has been criticised for not announcing a new package of support amid the latest Covid guidance
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Rishi Sunak has been criticised for not announcing a new package of support amid the latest Covid guidance
(PA)
Senior Tories are rounding on England's chief medical officer for issuing public health guidance advising people to reduce their social contacts in the run-up Christmas.
Professor Chris Whitty's advice was tacitly backed by Boris Johnson at last night's Covid press conference, with the prime minister saying that people should "think carefully" before meeting other people.
But ex-ministers Steve Brine and Steve Baker laid into Prof Whitty, claiming that government advisers are "running the show" in decided Covid restrictions.
Earlier chancellor Rishi Sunak was accused of going “missing in action” by businesses and trade unions after reportedly flying to California as Treasury officials scrambled to put together a financial support packages.
Away from Westminster, voters are heading to the polls in the North Shropshire by-election triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson, the ex-Tory MP who quit after he was found to have broken lobbying rules.
Recommended Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds Lib Dems say North Shropshire by-election is now ‘coin toss’ as Labour denies giving up Brexit: Minister ‘begging’ for trade deal in speech urging US to wake up and ‘make choice’
Key Points Lib Dems say North Shropshire by-election ‘coin toss’ with Tories Labour calls for firms to get financial support to weather ‘perfect storm’ Rishi Sunak ‘accused of going missing in action’ as businesses call for support Voters go cold on Brexit deal
Show latest update 1639656188 Government refuses to rule out 3.8% rail fare rise
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has refused to out a 3.1 per cent hike to rail fares when challenged by Labour in the Commons.
Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said such an increase would be "brutal".
The Labour MP said: "Ahead of a tough Christmas, people across this country are paying the price of Tory inflation."
Shapps responded: "She's right about inflation of course, but it is a global post-pandemic issue, rather than specific to this country, and that's why the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a series of measures, including a big uplift in the living wage of 6.6 per cent, outclassing even inflation."
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 12:03
1639655070 Tory MPs attack Chris Whitty for ‘running the show’ with Christmas party advice
Tory MPs have attacked Chris Whitty’s call for people to cut back on Christmas partying as an adviser “running the show” – despite no Commons vote to impose restrictions.
Ex-ministers Steve Brine and Steve Baker laid into the chief medical officer after he urged the public not to mix at festive events unless they “really matter to them”.
Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick has the story:
Tory MPs attack Chris Whitty for ‘running the show’ with Christmas party advice Advisers don’t ‘run businesses facing complete ruin’ Treasury minister told – after call to limit socialising
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:44
1639654786 Queen cancels pre-Christmas lunch
The Queen has cancelled her traditional pre-Christmas family lunch next week.
It is understood the decision was a precaution amid the rapid spread of the new variant of Covid-19.
ITV’s royal correspondent Chris Ship has suggested it could put too many people’s Christmas arrangements at risk if it went ahead.
My colleague Kate Ng has more details below:
Queen’s Christmas lunch cancelled due to Covid fears The cancellation comes amid the rapid spread of the new Covid-19 variant, omicron
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:39
1639654269 PM denies claims he’s announced ‘unofficial’ lockdown
In a clip for broadcasters to be published later, Boris Johnson denied that he has introduced lockdown by stealth.
He said: “What we have is the additional protection of the vaccines, and the ability to test.
“So if you want to do something, if you want to go to an event or a party, then the sensible thing to do, if that’s a priority, the sensible thing to do is to get a test and to make sure that you’re being cautious.
“But we’re not saying that we want to cancel stuff, we’re not locking stuff down, and the fastest route back to normality is to get boosted.”
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:31
1639654063 Tory North Shropshire by-election candidate admitted party reports came up on door
The Conservative candidate in the North Shropshire by-election admitted that reports of lockdown-busting parties in Westminster came up on the doorstep while he was canvassing for votes.
Although people were predominantly concerned with local issues, they reacted with a mix of “upset and anger” to allegations Tory staff held gathering during Covid lockdowns, Neil Shastri-Hurst told The Times yesterday.
According to the paper Lesley Fisher, a retired school teacher who lives in Oswestry, said Boris Johnson has “lost the confidence of the people”.
Meanwhile in Whitchurch Brian Ashley, 70, a van driver, says PM is "brainy man" and his advisers have been "snitching" on him.
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:27
1639653632 Demands for apology from Tory MP after ‘outrageous’ attack on Chris Whitty
Labour is demanding an apology after a Conservative MP said that chief medical officer Chris Whitty should “defer” to Boris Johnson over advice on Covid precautions over the Christmas period.
Joy Morrissey, who is a parliamentary aide in the Ministry of Justice, hit out after Prof Whitty said people should “deprioritise” unnecessary social gatherings, at a time when the prime minister insists he is not ordering the cancellation of Christmas parties.
Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
Demand for apology from Tory MP after ‘outrageous’ attack on Chris Whitty Chief medical officer should ‘defer’ to Boris Johnson on omicron guidance, says Joy Morrissey
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:20
1639652694 PM accused of ‘lie to parliament’ over huge Foreign Office staff cuts
Boris Johnson is facing fresh accusations of lying to parliament, after wrongly denying that the Foreign Office is planning to slash staff numbers by 10 per cent.
Senior Tory MP Tom Tugendhat protested at the move in the Commons – warning it undermined aspirations for a ‘Global Britain’ – but the prime minister insisted he was wrong.
“The information that has recently trickled into his ears is fake news,” Mr Johnson told the chair of the foreign affairs committee, after the foreign secretary Liz Truss whispered something to him.
Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick reports:
Boris Johnson accused of ‘lie to parliament’ over huge Foreign Office staff cuts Prime minister called the claim ‘fake news’ - but leaked email to Foreign Office staff confirmed it
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 11:04
1639651785 Sunak to address business leaders ‘later this afternoon’
Rishi Sunak will address business leaders’ concerns about omicron later this afternoon, a Treasury minister has said.
It looks as though the chancellor will conduct the talks virtually as he’s in California on an official trip.
“The chancellor will be speaking to UK hospitality sector this afternoon to address their concerns” Treasury minister John Glen has told MPs.
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 10:49
1639650848 Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds
Voters across the political divide are going cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal as its implications become clearer, a new study has found.
Leave and Remain voters have both become more likely than they were in January to say the UK has got a bad deal with the EU.
The study, by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), found that just 12 per cent of people believed Britain and got a good deal in August – a decline from 21 per cent who took the same view in January.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds Voters across the political divide are now not keen on the accord negotiated by the government
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 10:34
1639650360 Voters head to the polls in North Shropshire
Voters are heading to the polls today in the North Shropshire by-election triggered by Owen Paterson, the ex-Tory MP who resigned after he was found to have broken lobbying rules.
Last night, on the eve of the vote, the Liberal Democrats claimed the contest was a “coin toss” between them and the Tories, as Labour’s Keir Starmer denied a “gentleman’s agreement” with the Liberals had taken place in a bid to dial back campaigning and give Ed Davey’s party a free run at the West Midlands seat.
The Tories are defending a 23,000 majority, in what was expected to be a straight shoot out between them and the Lib Dems. Locals began casting their ballots at 7am this morning and the polls stay open until 10pm tonight.
You can view a full list of the candidates running for election here by visiting www.electoralcommission.org.uk/
Matt Mathers 16 December 2021 10:26
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