Summary

  • At PMQs, Boris Johnson said "all guidance was followed completely" after he was asked about whether No 10 held parties last year that breached lockdown rules

  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the rules were "very clear" in prohibiting work Christmas lunches and parties

  • Mr Johnson added that it was important to follow guidance and wear masks on public transport and in shops to deal with the Omicron variant

  • Minister Gillian Keegan then outlined "ambitious" reforms to the social care system

  • But Labour's Liz Kendall said the plan "utterly fails to deal with the immediate pressures facing social care"

  • It comes after Tory MPs rebelled against the government in a vote approving a social care cap for England

  • Meanwhile, the government pledged to offer all adults in England a booster by 31 January amid concerns about the new variant

  • But some Tory MPs expressed anger at further Covid measures, including mandatory masks on public transport

  • Labour wanted the government to go further, saying people flying into the UK should have a PCR test before arriving

  • Leaked minutes from a meeting of the government's scientific advisers said pre-departure testing for travellers returning to the UK would be "valuable"

Live Reporting

Edited by Jennifer Scott

  1. What are the rules in Wales, Scotland and NI?

    We've been hearing a lot about the government's changes to the Covid rules and the booster jab roll-out for England in recent days, but what is happening in the other UK nations?

    Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are all currently using vaccine passports for many venues, as well as mandatory face masks on public transport and in shops.

    In Scotland, the vaccine passports are limited to large events and nightclubs, but face masks are also required in schools for all staff and secondary pupils.

    Vaccine passport are also required in Wales for nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls, and many other indoor and outdoor events, and there is a formal recommendation for people to work from home wherever possible.

    The Northern Irish government has also instituted a limit of 30 people from different households mixing indoors in domestic settings, as well as vaccine passports for nightclubs, bars and cinemas.

  2. Pre-departure PCR would be 'valuable'

    AirportReuters

    While some in the Conservative Party think the new rules go too far, Labour is calling for additional measures to be added in when it comes to travel.

    People entering the UK now have to take a Covid PCR test within two days of arriving and isolate until they get the result.

    But Labour wants all travellers to take a PCR before they reach the UK.

    The government has stuck to its guns and said its plan is "proportionate".

    However, leaked documents from its scientific advisers say pre-departure tests would be "valuable".

    You can read more on the debate here.

  3. Small rebellion over new Covid restrictions

    Man in mask shoppingPA Media

    Other new restrictions have also been brought in by the government with the concerns over the new variant.

    Yesterday, MPs backed proposals to make masks mandatory again on public transport and in shops.

    And they also approved a legal requirement to self-isolate for contacts of suspected Omicron cases.

    But there was a small Tory rebellion against the rule changes, with Christopher Chope calling them "oppressive, authoritarian and dictatorial".

    You can read more on yesterday's debate here.

  4. Bolstering the booster plan

    Covid: No need to change Christmas plans says Sajid Javid

    Today's PMQs comes after the government announced the bolstering of its booster programme.

    It has pledged to offer the extra Covid jab to all adults in England by the end of January 2022 to tackle the threat of the so-called Omicron variant.

    Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC this morning that people should be "sensible" in the run up to Christmas and take precautions, like taking a lateral flow test before heading to a party.

    But yesterday, one of the government's top scientific advisers, Dr Jenny Harries, suggested people should limit unnecessary socialising.

    You can read more about the plans here.

  5. Good morning!

    Houses of ParliamentPA Media

    Welcome to Westminster, where it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside of Parliament.

    We'll be focusing on our live page indoors though as we approach another Prime Minister's Questions.

    This latest bout between Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will kick off at 12:00 GMT, so stay with us for all the build-up, news and analysis.

    You could even indulge in a mince pie while you wait...