UK Covid live: Johnson tells cabinet ‘huge spike’ in Omicron cases coming; Sturgeon expected to curb social mixing

Published on Dicembre 14, 2021

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8.29am EST

08:29

7.59am EST

07:59

Labour says HRA plans show government more interested in ‘culture wars’ than waging war on crime

Responding to Raab in the Commons, Steve Reed, the shadow justice secretary, dismissed the proposed Human Rights Act reforms as a distraction tactic. He said:

Every time the government is in trouble politically they wheel out reforming the Human Rights Act. It’s a dead cat destruction tactic by a government that doesn’t know how to fix the criminal justice system that they have broken and is desperate to divert attention away from corruption scandals that they started. This is little more than an attempt to wage culture wars because they’ve surrendered from waging war on crime and corruption.

Updated
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7.48am EST

07:48

Raab claims his reforms will introduce ‘healthy dose of common sense’ to Human Rights Act

In the Commons Dominic Raab, the justice secretary, is delivering his statement on the government’s plans to reform the Human Rights Act. There is a summary of the government’s plans here, on the Ministry of Justice’s website.

Here are extracts from the news release.

The proposals achieve this by restricting the rights available to those subject to deportation orders, strengthening the existing legal framework, or limiting the grounds on which a deportation decision can be overturned. This – alongside wider Home Office in its New Plan for Immigration – will reduce pull factors to the UK being exploited by people smugglers facilitating dangerous small boat crossings …

The plans will give the supreme court more ability to interpret human rights law in a UK context, meaning the government can enforce rules designed to tackle forced marriages without fear of intervention from Strasbourg …

The UK will remain party to the ECHR and continue to meet its obligations under the convention and all other international human rights treaties.

However, ministers will ensure the UK supreme court has the final say on UK rights by making clear that they should not blindly follow the Strasbourg court. It will mean that rights are interpreted in a UK context, with respect for the country’s case law, traditions, and the intention of its elected law makers.

Proposals also include measures to introduce a permission stage which will intercept frivolous claims that sap the energy and resource of courts.

Meanwhile, greater prominence will be given to the rights to jury trial and freedom of expression – meaning the space for rigorous debate will reflect the UK’s traditions and secure its values.

The government has also published today its independent Human Rights Act review, and a consultation document on its reform plans.

Raab claimed his plans would “strengthen typically British rights like freedom of speech and trial by jury, while preventing abuses of the system and adding a healthy dose of common sense”.

Updated
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7.39am EST

07:39

Cabinet met virtually today, No 10 says – as it still approves Christmas parties going ahead

Cabinet ministers held their meeting virtually this morning, not in person, No 10 said today at the lobby briefing. But the government is still saying Christmas parties should go ahead, and in the Commons this evening there will not be any opportunity for MPs to participate or vote remotely. These are from the Mail’s Jack Maidment and Byline Times’ Adam Bienkov.

Jack Maidment
(@jrmaidment)

Boris Johnson and his Cabinet met virtually today which feels like a moment. Has been in person for months.

No10 said decision was made in light of increasing Covid cases and ‘made sense’ to do it remotely.

Also says position ‘hasn’t changed’ on people attending Xmas parties.

December 14, 2021

Adam Bienkov
(@AdamBienkov)

Boris Johnson’s Cabinet met virtually today, with his spokesman saying it “made sense” given the government’s work from home guidance.

Johnson’s spokesman unable to explain why it also makes sense to ask hundreds of MPs to crowd through the lobbies in order to vote in person.

December 14, 2021

7.28am EST

07:28

Whitty tells cabinet its too early to know how severe Omicron is

Prof Chris Whitty, the government’s chief medical adviser, also addressed cabinet. This is how No 10 summarises what he said.

The chief medical officer updated cabinet on the latest evidence on the Omicron variant, confirming that the doubling time still appeared to be around two to three days. He said it was too early to say if cases were reducing or plateauing in South Africa but that there was no reliable evidence from South African scientists of a peak in case rates. He added that it remained too early to say how severe the Omicron variant was but that we can expect a significant increase in hospitalisations as cases increase.

7.25am EST

07:25

Johnson tells cabinet ‘huge spike’ in Omicron cases coming

Boris Johnson told cabinet this morning that a “huge spike” in Omicron cases is coming. This is from the Downing Street read-out of what he said.

Following Sunday’s address to the nation on the national booster mission, the prime minister said we must be clear in our message to the country to get boosted now and that the full weight of government would support the NHS to boost everyone over 18.

The prime minister said a huge spike of Omicron was coming and the measures we aimed to introduce as part of plan B were balanced and proportionate, helping to reduce transmission while we ramp-up the booster programme.

The prime minister finished by encouraging everyone eligible to get boosted and do everything possible in support of doctors, nurses and vaccinators as they do their vital work.

7.22am EST

07:22

According to the Sun’s Harry Cole, there has been speculation about the government shelving the vote on Covid passports later. No 10 has denied this.

Harry Cole
(@MrHarryCole)

Some senior Tories think its madness the VP vote is still going ahead and think it could yet be pulled…..

Firmly denied this morning by No10 and the PM is ringing round the rebels…

December 14, 2021

7.18am EST

07:18

At the Commons science committee Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, was asked if the person who has died with the Omicron variant had any underyling health conditions. She said they did not release infomation like that about individuals for privacy reasons.

7.13am EST

07:13

At one point this morning there were no PCR test slots available to the general public at walk-in and drive-in test sites across England, PA Media reports. PA says:

The government website said said there are “none available” at every region in England while slots are still available at sites in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

PCR test kits which are posted to people’s homes, usually arriving the following day, are available, the website says.

The public are being advised to try again later if they cannot get a test. Tests will not be available through helplines, the website added.

Now the government website is saying tests are available.

7.04am EST

07:04

Asked how long people are staying in hospital with Omicron, Riley says there is some evidence from South African that hospital stays are shorter. But he says comparing what happens in one health system with another is not easy.

7.02am EST

07:02

At the science committee Prof Steven Riley, the UK Health Security Agency’s director general for data, analytics and surveillance, is speaking now.

Asked how many people could end up in hospital because of Omicron, he refuses to put a figure on it.

He says the estimate today that Omicron is 29% less severe than previous variants (see 10.09am) is useful.

But he says if there are a very large number of infections, then even if only a small proportion of them are leading to serious illness, that will put pressure on the NHS.

6.57am EST

06:57

Hopkins says, with Omicron, people are more likely to get reinfected with coronavirus than with Delta. She says the reinfection rate for Omicron is three to eight times higher.

But she says they do not yet have data on how much more severe it is.

Updated
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6.54am EST

06:54

Hopkins tells the science committee that, given the large numbers of people being infected with Omicron every day, the next few weeks are set to be “very difficult”.

6.47am EST

06:47

These are from the FT’s Sebastian Payne on the mixed motives for Tory MPs planning to rebel tonight.

Sebastian Payne
(@SebastianEPayne)

There’s much perplexation about Tory MPs and tonight’s Covid votes. So thought I’d try and explain their thinking from my chats:

– The 80 rebels are primarily disgruntled by vaccine passports, followed by mandatory jabs for NHS workers. For theoretical and practical reasons…

December 14, 2021

Sebastian Payne
(@SebastianEPayne)

– The theoretical argument MPs have against both is about the role of the state. Many centrist Tories (eg Alicia Kearns) are opting for vote against the measures on the basis they think it’s bad lawmaking.

See Miriam Cates on UnHerd https://t.co/3rmI82NmqB

December 14, 2021

Sebastian Payne
(@SebastianEPayne)

– The practical argument is that some rebels don’t think the measures will work or aren’t supported by enough data. Greg Clark, for example, argues the hospitalisation data doesn’t back the restrictionshttps://t.co/2Fv88eTuDc

December 14, 2021

6.42am EST

06:42

At the science committee Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, is now giving evidence. She is here instead of Dr Jenny Harries, the agency’s chief executive, who was originally scheduled to appear.

She says vaccine protection wanes after 12 weeks, which is why the booster jabs have been brought forward

Q: Is the Covid pass plan, which MPs are voting on today, designed to encourage more people to get boosters?

Hopkins says she does not think that is the case because under the Covid pass plan people can enter venues by showing a negative lateral flow test instead of by showing they have been vaccinated.

6.35am EST

06:35

Tory MP Danny Kruger says PM has persuaded him not to rebel in Covid votes tonight

Danny Kruger, a parliamentary private secretary to Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, was one of the Tories threatening to vote against the government tonight. But, following a conversation with Boris Johnson this morning, he has decided to support the government.

In a post on his website, he explains why. This is what he says about why he changed his mind.

I spoke to the health secretary last night and the prime minister this morning. Both stressed that these deliberately limited measures are intended to prevent another mandatory lockdown; that there will never be compulsory vaccination for any citizen, or vaccination as a condition of employment for anyone except health and care workers; and that there will never be vaccine passports, as opposed to the ‘Covid passports’ that include a lateral flow test. On this basis – thus far and no further – I am happy to support the measures this evening.

But most of what he says in the statement is critical of what the government is planning. Here is another excerpt.

The paradox is that the measures are mild in terms of the fight against Covid-19, but significant in terms of the signal they send about the society we are becoming.

They are mild because we are not closing anything or restricting ordinary socialising; we are not introducing compulsory vaccination; and we are not introducing ‘vaccine passes’, but simply a requirement to show a negative test or proof of vaccination to enter large venues.

Limited as these measures are, however, they could well be harbingers of something much worse, as we see in other places (such as New York, where vaccination is compulsory if you want a job or any social activities; or Austria, where it is compulsory full stop, with fines and internment if you disobey).

6.18am EST

06:18

Sturgeon expected to announce new measures on social mixing

Libby Brooks

As Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, meets her cabinet this morning to make the final decisions on new Covid restrictions, we have some hints already about what will and won’t be in this afternoon’s statement to the Holyrood parliament.

On Monday evening Sturgeon definitively ruled out shutting schools early for the festive break in order to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.

Sturgeon, who is also expected to make a televised address later this evening, rejected calls from Scotland’s largest teaching union the EIS to close schools immediately, stating that her priority was to keep them open safely.

But with the health secretary, Humza Yousaf, describing new restrictions as “inevitable”, early briefing suggests the Scottish government will bring in lighter touch limits around social mixing, perhaps with limits on the number of households that can meet up each day, while urging the public to be stricter about social distancing and mask wearing.

It does not sound like there will be further extension of the vaccine passport scheme, which applies to nightclubs and large scale events like football matches, at this stage.

Updated
at 6.23am EST

6.13am EST

06:13

JCVI set to make announcement on vaccinating 5 to 11-year-olds before Christmas, MPs told

Greg Clark, chair of the science committee, also asked Prof Wei Shen Lim, chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s Covid panel, when the JCVI would authorise vaccines for children aged five to 11, as allowed in the US.

Lim said the JCVI were waiting for the vaccines to be approved for this age group by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). He said the regulators liked to move in step.

Asked when that decision might come, Lim indicated that it could come before Christmas, saying that this was a matter that was being considered now.

UPDATE: Here is the exchange between Clark and Lim on when an announcement might be made.

Lim said: “We are discussing that at the moment. We’re also waiting for the vaccines to be approved by MHRA.”

Clark asked: “So would you expect to make a decision before Christmas on that?”

Lim replied: “I would expect so, we try and keep in step with the approval process.”

Updated
at 6.50am EST

6.08am EST

06:08

Hunt tells JCVI chair it’s ‘totally obvious’ it should have approved boosters for all adults earlier

At the science committee Prof Wei Shen Lim, chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s Covid panel, is giving evidence now and Jeremy Hunt, the health committee chair, has been giving him the third degree.

Hunt said that the JCVI was acclaimed as a nimble regulator at the start of the pandemic. But Israel went ahead with boosters for all adults in September, when the UK was holding off from doing that. He put it to Lim that the Israeli approach was right and the UK’s wrong.

Lim said he did not agree. He said people at risk of death from the Delta variant were almost all over 40, and that giving booster vaccines too soon could make them less effective.

But Hunt rejected this argument, saying it was now “totally obvious” that all adults should have been given boosters earlier.

Hunt also criticised the decision not to authorise vaccines for teenagers earlier, as France did. Lim said the JCVI did not have the data to justify that.

Hunt also criticised the decision not to authorise vaccines for children above the age of five, as US regulators have permitted.

UPDATE: Hunt said:

America has already made a decision that it’s safe to vaccinate the over-fives with Pfizer, we haven’t made a decision yet.

I suppose the question I’m really asking, having been the most nimble in the world and received plaudits everywhere for being fleet to foot, can you understand why people are worried that not just yourself but with the MHRA, our regulators have been dragging their feet and therefore putting the NHS at greater risk this winter, and it might otherwise have been?

Lim replied:

I’ve been asked that question before and if you look at the different decisions that have been made, there is a time, I believe, to be extra fast, there’s a time to move extra cautiously.

We’ve moved very quickly at the start when there was a need to, we moved very quickly when Alpha emerged and we needed to change the advice, and we moved very quickly when Omicron emerged and we’ve changed our advice.

So, where we need to move very quickly, we will do so, where we feel that we do not want to outpace the data for safety reasons, we feel will do so. Both of these obviously are judgments as to how quickly one moves and we have made out those judgments based on the best available information.

Updated
at 7.15am EST