COVID-19: Boris Johnson resists calls to cancel Christmas while reviewing class system | Politics News

Boris Johnson has been battling demands for “Christmas cancellation”, claiming that it is too late to change plans to allow families to meet during the five-day relaxation period of the COVID bases.

He will face the members of Parliament in the House of Commons, then address the Conservative MPs and declare his opposition to dropping plans for the three families to meet from December 23-27.

But the prime minister is expected to urge people to isolate themselves before joining other families, and the government is preparing to issue stricter guidelines for the holiday period.

Besides isolation before the meeting, the new guidelines are expected to include a plea to stay local where possible and think carefully before meeting older adults and people who are clinically at risk.

Mr Johnson is set to clash in PMQs with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has demanded an urgent review for Christmas Coronavirus disease The rules and claims that the class system failed to control the virus.

But in speaking to the Conservative House of Representatives of 1922 later, the prime minister will try to reassure MPs who claim that changing the rules at this point will face a widespread challenge.

The prime minister’s “go on Christmas” message, defying pressure from medics to cancel the five-day relaxation period, surfaced after Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove held talks with leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

After the talks, a British government source said: “There are no plans to change regulations in England. We are keen to maintain a UK-wide approach and will have further discussions with the DAs (Delegated Administrations) tomorrow morning.”

Later, a government source told the Daily Telegraph, commenting on England, “We have set the rules. People know what they are. It would be a mistake to change them as Christmas approaches when they have made plans.”

But the source added, “But the prime minister wants to make it clear that reducing risks to themselves and their loved ones is something they should think about.”

In his conversations, Mr. Goff found little desire to alter Christmas plans. Welsh Minister Mark Drakeford described the four-nation approach as a “hard-won agreement” and said he would “not put it aside easily”.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “The four-nation call was a good opportunity to review the situation at Christmas and discuss whether the messages or directions require reinforcement.”

But earlier, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: “I think there is an issue for us to consider whether we are going to tighten the flexibility that has been given more, either in terms of duration or the number of people who will meet.

“And I’ll think about the other countries’ views – if we can reach an agreement between four countries, I think that would be better.

“If this is not possible, then of course we will look within the Scottish government at what we think is appropriate.”

YouGov Great Britain poll suggested 57% of respondents believe COVID rules should be lifted over Christmas, and only 31% said rules relaxation during the holiday period should go ahead.

In addition to reviewing the Christmas rules, the government is also reviewing the three-tier system in England, with some areas outside London, which are now in Level 3, and may move from Level 3 to Level 2.

In the House of Commons on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock gave former Labor Secretary Hillary a strong hint that Leeds might be on the verge of moving from Level 3 to Level 2.

Mr. Bean said that since the start of the recent national lockdown, the infection rate in Leeds has fallen from more than 400 cases per 100,000 to less than 140, and the number of COVID patients in hospital has decreased by 45% in the last month.

Mr. Hancock replied: “I have made a prudent intervention usually before making the decision on Wednesday regarding the decisions of the wider classes of the rest of the country.”

Later, at a Downing Street press conference, Mr. Hancock hinted that Manchester, Newcastle, Tees Valley, Bristol and Nottingham may also have some hope in pursuing Liverpool from Level 3 to Level 2 in the review.

He said they all showed the same pattern of strong local determination to cut injuries, as did the Liverpool city district when it secured its move to the lower level. We can do it, but we need to do it together, Hancock said.