Boris Johnson is unlikely to impose further coronavirus restrictions before Christmas after delaying a decision today.
The prime minister called a cabinet meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest data on the spread of the Omicron variant and whether a two-week circuit breaker banning indoor mixing was needed.
The Times has been told that both he and cabinet ministers do not believe the latest information is sufficient to justify a circuit breaker.
The prime minister has pledged to recall Parliament if he decides to implement further restrictions, a process that takes 48 hours. Given that millions of people are travelling for Christmas in coming days, a government source said that the logistics mean it is unlikely that there will be pre-Christmas restrictions.
A government source said: “The data isn’t there yet to justify further restrictions. There’s still so much that we don’t know about the severity of the variant and the extent to which vaccination and boosters sever the link between cases and hospitalisations.”
However, ministers are still considering plans for a circuit breaker after Christmas. This would ban people from different households from mixing indoors and introduce possible restrictions on hospitality.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, refused yesterday to rule out a circuit breaker and said the government might need to act before the data was clear. “If we wait until the data is perfect, it may be too late,” he said.
Johnson had faced a cabinet revolt over the prospect of further restrictions before Christmas. A third of the cabinet have made clear that they will not support them and have questioned official modelling.
Speaking for the first time since he resigned on Saturday, Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister, said that while he supported Johnson personally he could not back the ‘coercive’ rules.
The Times disclosed this morning that Rishi Sunak was one of at least ten cabinet ministers who were resisting calls by scientific advisers for tougher curbs to be introduced before Christmas.
Sunak is understood to have wanted to delay introducing restrictions until the information became clearer. He also suggested that more models be considered before making a decision that could cost the economy billions.
Other ministers who had similar concerns included Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, was also said to be “instinctively opposed” to further restrictions. Javid and Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, were said to be the strongest proponents of further restrictions.
There were suggestions that there could be more resignations if Johnson pushed ahead and announced new Covid restrictions.
So….. he’s going to impose more COVID restrictions before Christmas. Got it.
Of course they wont. They would rather lock down for three weeks after christmas than two weeks during it. They obviously dont want another one ‘ruined’ on their watch, such as it is
>Boris Johnson is unlikely to impose further coronavirus restrictions before Christmas after delaying a decision today
Do they play can-kicking at their parties? They’re very good at it.
>Sunak is understood to have wanted to delay introducing restrictions until the information became clearer. He also suggested that more models be considered before making a decision that could cost the economy billions
At least some ministers have some common sense and want to wait until the data shows if this ‘worst worst case scenario’ sage model is actually remotely realistic.
Despite all the bleating in every direction, the fact is there is as yet no real impact on hospitalisations. Therefore, there is no justification or evidence to support additional restrictions. It’s as simple as that.
Of courses not. To impose a lockdown, he’d have to recall parliament and he’s too much of a coward to disturb their holidays when they’re already sharpening the knives.
Thus no lockdown.
Boris Johnson will not impose more Covid restrictions before Christmas,
He will get somebody else to do it for him.
They would need to ensure no one is caught out breaking restrictions from the Tories then, otherwise people will just give up at the first sign of them not following restrictions.
First he will, then he won’t, then he will again….reminds me of the hokey cokey or a Christmas pantomime….all together now….”oh no he won’t” ….?
Either way he’s screwed. If he’s not locking down (not that anyone wants it or will follow it as strictly anymore), he’s basically killing people and businesses. And will end up in lockdown for far longer.
By locking down he’ll be hated even more for affecting people and businesses over Christmas again. He’d almost certainly have to be kicked out. And people will still do what they want since the Tories have been such a great example of rule following…
I’d say if restrictions are to come in – close nightclubs and restrict numbers in crowded areas. Have mask enforcement actually enforced – I still see SO many not bothering with masks. Fine people for not wearing it. Add further restrictions to the unvaccinated (they are more likely to end up hospitalized, thus overloading the health system which is the reason for lockdowns and restrictions).
11 comments
Boris Johnson is unlikely to impose further coronavirus restrictions before Christmas after delaying a decision today.
The prime minister called a cabinet meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest data on the spread of the Omicron variant and whether a two-week circuit breaker banning indoor mixing was needed.
The Times has been told that both he and cabinet ministers do not believe the latest information is sufficient to justify a circuit breaker.
The prime minister has pledged to recall Parliament if he decides to implement further restrictions, a process that takes 48 hours. Given that millions of people are travelling for Christmas in coming days, a government source said that the logistics mean it is unlikely that there will be pre-Christmas restrictions.
A government source said: “The data isn’t there yet to justify further restrictions. There’s still so much that we don’t know about the severity of the variant and the extent to which vaccination and boosters sever the link between cases and hospitalisations.”
However, ministers are still considering plans for a circuit breaker after Christmas. This would ban people from different households from mixing indoors and introduce possible restrictions on hospitality.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, refused yesterday to rule out a circuit breaker and said the government might need to act before the data was clear. “If we wait until the data is perfect, it may be too late,” he said.
Johnson had faced a cabinet revolt over the prospect of further restrictions before Christmas. A third of the cabinet have made clear that they will not support them and have questioned official modelling.
Speaking for the first time since he resigned on Saturday, Lord Frost, the former Brexit minister, said that while he supported Johnson personally he could not back the ‘coercive’ rules.
The Times disclosed this morning that Rishi Sunak was one of at least ten cabinet ministers who were resisting calls by scientific advisers for tougher curbs to be introduced before Christmas.
Sunak is understood to have wanted to delay introducing restrictions until the information became clearer. He also suggested that more models be considered before making a decision that could cost the economy billions.
Other ministers who had similar concerns included Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, and Grant Shapps, the transport secretary. Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, was also said to be “instinctively opposed” to further restrictions. Javid and Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, were said to be the strongest proponents of further restrictions.
There were suggestions that there could be more resignations if Johnson pushed ahead and announced new Covid restrictions.
So….. he’s going to impose more COVID restrictions before Christmas. Got it.
Of course they wont. They would rather lock down for three weeks after christmas than two weeks during it. They obviously dont want another one ‘ruined’ on their watch, such as it is
>Boris Johnson is unlikely to impose further coronavirus restrictions before Christmas after delaying a decision today
Do they play can-kicking at their parties? They’re very good at it.
>Sunak is understood to have wanted to delay introducing restrictions until the information became clearer. He also suggested that more models be considered before making a decision that could cost the economy billions
At least some ministers have some common sense and want to wait until the data shows if this ‘worst worst case scenario’ sage model is actually remotely realistic.
Despite all the bleating in every direction, the fact is there is as yet no real impact on hospitalisations. Therefore, there is no justification or evidence to support additional restrictions. It’s as simple as that.
Of courses not. To impose a lockdown, he’d have to recall parliament and he’s too much of a coward to disturb their holidays when they’re already sharpening the knives.
Thus no lockdown.
Boris Johnson will not impose more Covid restrictions before Christmas,
He will get somebody else to do it for him.
They would need to ensure no one is caught out breaking restrictions from the Tories then, otherwise people will just give up at the first sign of them not following restrictions.
First he will, then he won’t, then he will again….reminds me of the hokey cokey or a Christmas pantomime….all together now….”oh no he won’t” ….?
Either way he’s screwed. If he’s not locking down (not that anyone wants it or will follow it as strictly anymore), he’s basically killing people and businesses. And will end up in lockdown for far longer.
By locking down he’ll be hated even more for affecting people and businesses over Christmas again. He’d almost certainly have to be kicked out. And people will still do what they want since the Tories have been such a great example of rule following…
I’d say if restrictions are to come in – close nightclubs and restrict numbers in crowded areas. Have mask enforcement actually enforced – I still see SO many not bothering with masks. Fine people for not wearing it. Add further restrictions to the unvaccinated (they are more likely to end up hospitalized, thus overloading the health system which is the reason for lockdowns and restrictions).