Boris Johnson proposes 'no change' to Christmas coronavirus proposals
Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 10 Downing Street, London. - Credit: PA
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will press ahead with a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions over Christmas.
Boris Johnson urged people to “exercise extreme caution” as they celebrate Christmas amid fears about the spread of coronavirus but up to three households will still be allowed to mix between December 23 and 27.
Talks involving the UK government and leaders of the devolved administration have agreed to continue with the plan, but with a stronger message warning people of the dangers.
At Prime Minister’s Questions Johnson said it was right to “stress the importance of people taking care this Christmas”, particularly due to the risk of asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus.
He told MPs: “We should exercise extreme caution in the way we celebrate Christmas.
You may also want to watch:
“We can celebrate it sensibly but we have to be extremely cautious in the way we behave.”
Talks took place on Tuesday and Wednesday involving the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove.
Most Read
- 1 The greatest failure of government in our lifetime
- 2 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 3 Matt Hancock praises free school meals before being reminded he voted against them
- 4 James O'Brien schools Brexiteer who refuses to accept new EU-UK trade rules
- 5 Nigel Farage launches new party in Scotland to promote 'positive case for the Union'
- 6 Brexiteer MP ridiculed after calling for free movement of goods between GB and NI
- 7 Brexiteer rebuked after backing Nigel Farage's 'East Germany' claims
- 8 Scottish fishing boats ditch UK waters for Denmark to escape Brexit red tape
- 9 The polling that signals the plight of the Union
- 10 PMQs Review: The one where the speaker finally snapped
Johnson told MPs there was “unanimous agreement” across the four nations “that we should proceed in principle with the existing regulations”.
“We don’t want to criminalise people’s long-made plans,” he said.
“But we do think it’s absolutely vital that people should – at this very, very tricky time – exercise a high degree of personal responsibility, especially when they come into contact with elderly people, and avoid contact with elderly people wherever possible.”
Political leaders have however agreed to stronger messaging around the need for people to limit their contacts at Christmas.
The public will be urged to keep travel to a minimum and use common sense in regard to social contact, the source said.
Johnson had been advised to follow Angela Merkel's lead in Germany after the chancellor cut the amount of interaction allowed over the holidays.
Experts had told Downing Street that a surge in cases after Christmas would be blamed on Number 10.
"You can see two months down the track when we’re all looking back saying ‘why on earth did they do that?'" one minister told Politico.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
