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

MPs are now about to start the debate on Covid passes, other regulations announced last week (on face masks and isolation rules), and mandatory vaccination for frontline NHS workers.

The Commons order paper, with links to all four statutory instruments being put to a vote, is here (pdf).

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.