BORIS Johnson said sorry to the Queen after aides held a Downing Street tear-up on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.
The raucous bash saw staff haul a suitcase full of wine to No10 as Wilfred’s swing was also broken, despite the Government being in mourning and the country under Covid restrictions.
Meanwhile, Labour's leader Sir Keir Starmer has been branded ‘hypocrite’ after being pictured drinking beer during lockdown.
He was seen through the window of a building standing close to others with a beer in hand.
A Tory source said: “Sir Keir has spent the past two months criticising people for doing the exact same thing he’s been doing himself.
“He is an absolute hypocrite."
Read our covid live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Milica Cosic
Ministers expected to ditch Plan B measures
Ministers are expected to ditch Plan B measures – including vaccine passports, work from home orders and compulsory face masks indoors in shops, public transport and other crowded spaces – on January 26.
Although government insiders fear unions will fight tooth and nail to keep masks.
Falling Covid rates also mean that face coverings in schools could be scrapped before Plan B restrictions are lifted – which is expected on January 26.
- Milica Cosic
Keir Starmer branded 'hypocrite'
LABOUR'S leader Sir Keir Starmer has been branded ‘hypocrite’ after being pictured drinking beer during lockdown.
He was seen through the window of a building standing close to others with a beer in hand.
A Tory source said: “Sir Keir has spent the past two months criticising people for doing the exact same thing he’s been doing himself.
“He is an absolute hypocrite.”
Meanwhile, Brits are set to enjoy greater freedoms in less than two weeks' time as Boris Johnson is set to ditch Plan B restrictions.
The PM is expected to remove many curbs on our daily lives amid growing confidence the UK can ride out the Omicron wave.
The legal underpinning for Plan B expires on January 26 and the restrictions will fade away unless renewed by the PM.
- Louis Allwood
Sajid Javid says there’s ‘no need’ for Covid passports
Sajid Javid is set to now argue that there’s no need for them with Omicron’s wave now weakening.
A Whitehall source told the paper: “There was always a very high threshold for the policy and it looks increasingly likely in a couple of weeks that threshold won’t be met.
“The way cases are going it will be hard to justify renewing.”
This comes as Heath Secretary Sajid Javid said “there are already early signs that the rate of hospitalisation is starting to slow”.
- Louis Allwood
PM ‘must scrap Covid passports to save his career’
BORIS Johnson must scrap masks and Covid vaccine passports, ditch the booze culture at No 10 and have a staff clear out to save his career, Cabinet ministers demanded last night.
One Cabinet minister told The Sun yesterday: “There’s a very easy way to get back into MPs’ good books, but there will be a fight.”
They added that the PM would need “stomach” to stare down medics and teaching unions who want mask wearing to continue for months to come.
But they said the plan is “his only ace left to play”.Another senior Tory said it is now just a question of “when” Boris will be booted out of Downing Street. The MP said: “You can’t have somebody who misleads you.” Boris was bunkered down in No 10 yesterday after cancelling a planned trip to the Red Wall after a family member caught Covid.
Read the article in full here.
- Louis Allwood
Vaccine volunteers would be kept on standby under Labour’s plan
A permanent ‘Jabs Army’ would be deployed nationwide at short notice in case a new variant emerges.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting is announcing the move following the success of The Sun’s longstanding network to deliver jabs.
The party say barriers and bureaucracy meant many of the 750,000 people who signed up in just four days weren’t properly utilised.
Helpers would help deliver the roll-out of any vaccine and the delivery of test kits to homes in the event of future Covid variants and waning immunity.
Mr Streeting said: “The best of Britain is getting us through this pandemic.
"A Jabs Army can ready the country for future waves of infections.
"I’m proud to support The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign.
“The Conservative Government’s approach at every stage of the pandemic has been chaotic and indecisive."
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson acts to end party culture
Staff will be ordered to restrict their drinking to off the premises and outside working hours in future.
Number 10 office areas will be declared “dry” under a plan being considered by Mr Johnson as he tries to clean up his government’s battered reputation.
He is convinced that the only way is to ban all alcohol behind the famous black door – apart from at official receptions in state function rooms.
It has been claimed that staff held “wine time Fridays” to let off steam while indoor socialising was banned under pandemic rules.
Last month a £150 drinks fridge was delivered to keep bottles of white win, Prosecco and beer cool.
A senior Tory said: “Even when there isn’t a pandemic on, people in government shouldn’t be having drinks in the office.
“I know they have been working hard but if they want to relax they should go home – or go to the pub.
“It’s not just in Downing Street, either. I’ve seen civil servants drinking inside Whitehall departments. It’s got to stop.”
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson's future as Prime Minister on ‘death row’
The PM has been warned he is in for the fight of his life as top Tories held emergency talks over when to bring his 907 days in office to a swift end.
One senior figure yesterday claimed up to 35 MPs had already sent letters of no confidence to backbenchers’ leader Sir Graham Brady.
If he receives 19 more, Mr Johnson will face a vote which would oust him as PM — and force a new leadership contest.
A Cabinet source said: “Boris is toast and deep down he knows that. He’s not stupid. He’ll be thinking long and hard about his way out now.
“He may reach the conclusion it is better to get out with a bit of dignity in his own time.
"Even if he wins a confidence vote, he’ll know that’s a step along the road towards the exit door.”
- Louis Allwood
Cases are dropping
Cases are now falling in every region in England as the crucial R rate has stabilised, new data has revealed.
Yesterday's daily infections dropped below 100,000 for the first time in three weeks, indicating the Brits have now passed the peak of Omicron infections.
The R rate is currently between 1.1 and 1.5 a slight dip from last weeks 1.2 to 1.5.
Infections have dipped to 99,652 yesterday across the country and the last time figures were below 100,000 was Christmas Day, but this was likely due to people celebrating the holiday and not getting tested.
For the past seven days, infections have fallen hugely from record highs of over 200,000-per-day in an encouraging sign.
- Louis Allwood
Professor gives encouraging news
Professor Tim Spector said: "From Zoe data, the Omicron peak has gone, a few days ago.
"Across the country we are seeing a decrease in virtually all areas, except perhaps the North East, but that is starting to slow down.
"The Omicron wave has peaked and is going down so we're on the other side so that's great – but of course we don't know what the future holds."
It was also revealed just under half of all patients with Covid in hospital are being treated for something else primarily.
- Louis Allwood
Random Covid side effects
In a small number of people, more bizarre symptoms may emerge, such as burping or pink eye. Usually symptoms clear up on their own as the body fights infection.
But as we know, the virus has left millions with “long Covid”, causing a huge array of side effects that won’t budge.
Here, we take a look at some of the more embarrassing problems that Covid may cause:
- Burping
- Diarrhoea
- Sex Problems
- Shrinking penis
- Sweating
- Mood swings
- Snoring
- Red or pink eye
- Incontinence
Read more about the symptoms here.
The Sun’s Jab Army needs YOU
Although Omicron is markedly milder than previous variants, the sheer number of cases have left up to a million people self-isolating and threatening widespread disruption to schools and the economy.
Ministers also say the combination of boosters and Plan B measures are “working” and are not expected to announce fresh measures.
A third jab also significantly slashes the risk of falling seriously ill – and The Sun’s Jab’s Army campaign is helping get vital boosters in people’s arms.
What is a vote of no confidence by the Government?
This is in effect a threat of dissolution by the Government, which persuades backbench MPs to support a bill.
A General Election could be triggered if the Government loses, but it will more likely end in the resignation of the leader.
On December 12, 2018, Tory MPs wrote to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee expressing no confidence in Theresa May, the then Prime Minister.
They asked for 48 MPs wrote letters expressing their desire for a vote of no confidence to the backbench 1922 Committee, triggering an anonymous ballot to decide their leader’s fate.
May survived despite a third of MPs voting against her, resigning five months later on May 24, 2019.
Covid roundup
- New rules now say anyone who tests positive on a lateral flow must log their results and isolate, and if they don’t have symptoms they don’t need to have a PCR.
- If they do have symptoms they still must take a PCR follow-up, regardless of the LTF result.
- It comes as Brits are set to enjoy greater freedoms in just 12 days’ time with Boris Johnson poised to ditch Plan B restrictions.
How the new isolation system will work
From Monday isolation rules are changing, going down to five full days.
But the confusing detail of the new rules means anyone isolating will actually have to do so for six, not five, days.
An example timeline is as follows:
Monday = Day 0 (when you develop symptoms or get a positive test)
Tuesday = Day 1
Wednesday = Day 2
Thursday = Day 3
Friday = Day 4
Saturday = Day 5 – first lateral flow test
Sunday = Day 6 – second lateral flow test and if both are negative you can leave isolation
Analyst claims China’s virus death toll could actually be 17,000% higher
It's feared the country's true Covid fatality figure is around the 1.7million mark opposed to the 4,636 reported by Chinese authorities – despite having the world's strictest lockdown.
George Calhoun, director of the quantitative finance programme at Stevens Institute of Technology, has alleged the regime has likely recorded fewer deaths in a systematic data suppression in a bid to keep its political image untarnished.
The expert, who has studied data generated by a model developed by The Economist, claimed to The Epoch Times that China's official figures are "statistically impossible".
Since April 2020, when the majority of fatalities were reported in Wuhan, just two deaths have been officially recorded by authorities in Beijing – ranking China as having the fewest Covid related deaths in the world.
"That’s impossible. It’s medically impossible, it’s statistically impossible," Mr Calhoun told the outlet.
“Remember, in 2020, there was no vaccine, there was no treatment. So you had an unprotected population that has shown zero Covid deaths, even though they’ve had tens of thousands of cases.”
- Louis Allwood
Probe ‘set to find no evidence of criminality'
Boris Johnson is reportedly set to dodge a Met investigation when veteran civil servant Sue Gray publishes her report into several bashes.
Scotland Yard has said they will only launch a police probe if the top mandarin discovers law-breaking and refers it to the cops.
The PM has staked his political life on her report after begging angry Tory MPs to wait before weighing in.
In a cause for some comfort, Ms Gray is not expected to find sufficient grounds of criminality, according to The Times.
She is also expected to hold her counsel over whether Mr Johnson breached the sacred ministerial code.
But she could scold the PM for foolishness by attending a "bring your own booze" knees-up in the No10 garden in May 2020.
- Louis Allwood
Top civil servant admits being at party
The ex-chief of Whitehall’s crack Covid Taskforce invited dozens of officials to a boozy leaving bash while London was at the height of Tier 3 restrictions that banned indoor mixing and closed pubs.
Kate Josephs, now CEO of Sheffield City Council, said she was “truly sorry” for the do on December 17, 2020 in the Cabinet Office — which has a connecting door to No 10.
The latest party-gate revelation came as PM Boris Johnson was forced into his second grovelling apology for the affair in a week — this time to the Queen.
And more MPs and senior Tories broke cover to tell the PM to bite the bullet and resign.
No 10 was rocked by revelations aides had stayed up drinking and dancing on the night of April 16 last year — the night before Prince Philip’s funeral.
The party was so lairy it is even claimed an aide hauled a suitcase full of wine from a nearby supermarket and drunk revellers broke the garden swing used by the PM’s son Wilfred.
- Louis Allwood
Neville and Carragher mock Boris Johnson over ‘work parties’
The pair jokingly warned both teams to treat the match as a work event despite the party-like atmosphere Friday Night Football often produces.
Neville and Carragher were of course referencing Boris' claim that the alleged May 2020 Downing Street party was instead a work event.
Neville said on Sky Sports: "We get these Friday Night Football matches – we were at the Brentford one last time and it was absolutely fantastic. We always seem to get a massive party."
Carragher then took over, adding: "Let's be straight though this is not a party tonight this is about work.
"If you speak to Graham Potter, Patrick Vieira and the 22 players on the pitch they've got to know the difference between work and a party.
"And if they get that wrong and think they're in party mode they're gonna be in big big trouble."
The pundits' joke references that of TV duo Ant & Dec, who similarly mocked the Prime Minister after he was accused of hosting lockdown breaking parties.
- Louis Allwood
Covid cases halved in two weeks
A total of 81,713 fresh infections were reported in the latest 24-hour period, compared to a staggering 179,637 a fortnight ago.
A further 287 virus deaths were also recorded yesterday – down on last week's 313, but a rise on the 162 on January 1.
It brings the total number of positive cases since the pandemic began to 15,147,120.
And the UK's Covid death toll now stands at a grim 151,899.
Today is the second day in a row that the number of people testing positive has fallen below 100,000.
Infections dipped to 99,652 before falling further to today's 81,713 in a promising sign the country is moving past the Omicron peak.
The last time figures were below 100,000 before January 14 was December 21, which saw 90,629 cases.
- Louis Allwood
Boris Johnson risks losing Tory voters
A whopping 85 per cent of Brits who backed the PM in 2019 say ditching the 5 per cent levy would be a vital saving when heating costs rocket in April.
Despite a crescendo of calls Mr Johnson is refusing to axe the tax, branding it a "blunt instrument" and instead opting for targeted support cash.
But the Yonder poll for the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) finds his support base wants him to do the exact opposite.
Some 62 per cent of Tory voters want him to scrap the VAT, while just 26 per cent prefer the targeted approach.
The RSA's Alan Lockey said: "By not going with this hugely popular policy, Boris could see his 2019 majority melt away."
Labour also eye the cost of living crisis as a key battleground as they plan an assault to recapture the Red Wall next time.
- Louis Allwood
Coral slash the odds
Coral has slashed the odds further yesterday afternoon on Boris Johnson leaving his role as Prime Minister during 2022 to just 4-11.
This means the bookie gives an implied probability of 73% that Johnson leaves office during this year, that figure rising from below 70% previously.
“It’s been another damaging day of revelations for our Prime Minister and our betting now gives an implied probability of greater than 70% that he does not see out the year in charge of the nation,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.
- Louis Allwood
"An apology isn’t the only thing the Prime Minister should be offering"
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has again called on Boris Johnson to resign following the disclosure No 10 apologised to Buckingham Palace for parties held during national mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh.
“This shows just how seriously Boris Johnson has degraded the office of Prime Minister,” Sir Keir said.
“The Conservatives have let Britain down. An apology isn’t the only thing the Prime Minister should be offering the palace today.
“Boris Johnson should do the decent thing and resign.”
- Milica Cosic
Expert's warning as over 100 'flurona' cases detected in England
Doctors worry a flu and covid wave could hit, with concern to the healthcare system if there are simultaneous waves of Covid-19 and seasonal flu.
Experts expect this winter will be the first time it will be circulating alongside covid, causing concern for health outcomes.
Professor Iain Buchan, dean of Liverpool University’s Institute of Population Health, said: "Anyone infected with two viruses, or a virus and bacteria – in this case, two viruses, influenza virus and coronavirus – is more of a concern.
"The body does have defence mechanisms that will attack these organisms individually and separately, so there are sort of general lines of defence and more inflammatory chemicals mobilising the body's immune system."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that, while flu activity remains low, this could change in the following weeks.
- Milica Cosic
City of Beijing reports first local Omicron case
The Chinese capital, Beijing, has reported its first locally transmitted infection of the Omicron variant, just weeks ahead of its staging of the Olympic Winter Games, according to state media.
Lab testing found “mutations specific to the Omicron variant”, Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, told a news briefing.
The detection of the Omicron variant in Beijing comes in the run-up to the Winter Olympics, due to start on 4 February.
- Milica Cosic
Most transmissible variant
Despite reasons to be cautiously optimistic, physician Leonard Pascual did warn that “Omicron is the most contagious variant yet of the Covid-19 virus.
"Don’t let anyone win you over with the narrative that is a cure-all, end-all, ‘vaccine.’ It’s still Covid.”
In fact, only “a whiff of infected breath” is enough to catch the most transmissible variant of coronavirus, a leading scientist warned earlier last week.
Professor Peter Openshaw, who sits on the UK’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), stressed how infectious Omicron is.
He said that: “We’ve had several iterations of this virus going through different stages of its evolution”.
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