As the United Kingdom continues to report a record number of covid-19 cases, PM Boris Johnson stressed the need to exercise caution and booster doses, if the country doesn't want to be in lockdown during Christmas.

UK PM Boris Johnson under pressure not to impose any restrictions during Christmas

Despite a rapid rise in the country's Omicron cases, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned people to take precautions and ruled out Christmas lockdown plans for now.

UK PM Boris Johnson: No Christmas lockdown for Britain yet, but looking at all kinds of options

Lockdown party scandal snowballs as UK PM Boris Johnson's 'Wine & Cheese' photo leaks from May 2020.

'Wine & Cheese' photo latest blow to controversy-ridden UK PM Boris Johnson

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that despite a surge in Covid cases, the country will not go under a lockdown at least till Christmas. However, British scientists disagree with him.<o:p></o:p>

Leading medical experts have claimed that waiting till New Year or later to impose a lockdown in the country will "almost certainly be too late to have a material impact on the epidemic".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/people-at-work-talking-about-work-boris-johnson-reacts-to-downing-street-garden-party-photo-438627">'People at work, talking about work': Boris Johnson reacts to Downing Street garden party photo</a>

<o:p></o:p>

The UK has been struggling to control the wide spread of Omicron variant through the country. Cases have been doubling up at a rate faster than that of the Delta variant. While locals have been urged to stay indoors, wear masks and practice social distancing, the same looks difficult as the country is gearing up to celebrate Christmas and New Year next weekend.<o:p></o:p>

However, some experts have also said that looking at the data of Covid cases, there is a chance that it is already too late to impose these restrictions. In such a case, it will be difficult to analyse if these restrictions, if imposed, have any impact on controlling the virus.<o:p></o:p>

"We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t," Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, was quoted by the Guardian.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/omicron-variant-surge-across-world-governments-taking-strict-measures-to-curb-spread-438659">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/omicron-variant-surge-across-world-governments-taking-strict-measures-to-curb-spread-438659/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, he still suggests reintroducing all Covid regulations to make sure there is some chance of flattening the curve, rather than facing a calamity. "If we implement control measures now, they are unlikely to be sufficient to reverse the growth, only slow it," he said. "But there may still be benefits in slowing the peak, in terms of flattening the curve."<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stands firm on his decision of not imposing a complete lockdown at least till December. "The situation is extremely difficult and the arguments either way are very, very finely balanced," he said.<o:p></o:p>

However, he has also stressed that the government and medical experts will make sure a 'constant revie'’ is carried out of all the Covid data, especially for the Omicron variant.<o:p></o:p>

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that despite a surge in Covid cases, the country will not go under a lockdown at least till Christmas. However, British scientists disagree with him.

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that despite a surge in Covid cases, the country will not go under a lockdown at least till Christmas. However, British scientists disagree with him. Leading medical experts have claimed that waiting till New Year or later to impose a lockdown in the country will "almost certainly be too late to have a material impact on the epidemic". Also read | 'People at work, talking about work': Boris Johnson reacts to Downing Street garden party photo The UK has been struggling to control the wide spread of Omicron variant through the country. Cases have been doubling up at a rate faster than that of the Delta variant. While locals have been urged to stay indoors, wear masks and practice social distancing, the same looks difficult as the country is gearing up to celebrate Christmas and New Year next weekend. However, some experts have also said that looking at the data of Covid cases, there is a chance that it is already too late to impose these restrictions. In such a case, it will be difficult to analyse if these restrictions, if imposed, have any impact on controlling the virus. "We are damned if we do and damned if we don’t," Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, was quoted by the Guardian. WATCH | However, he still suggests reintroducing all Covid regulations to make sure there is some chance of flattening the curve, rather than facing a calamity. "If we implement control measures now, they are unlikely to be sufficient to reverse the growth, only slow it," he said. "But there may still be benefits in slowing the peak, in terms of flattening the curve." Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stands firm on his decision of not imposing a complete lockdown at least till December. "The situation is extremely difficult and the arguments either way are very, very finely balanced," he said. However, he has also stressed that the government and medical experts will make sure a 'constant revie'’ is carried out of all the Covid data, especially for the Omicron variant.

UK experts disagree with Boris Johnson's plan of delaying Covid regulations

UK has confirmed two new cases of Omicron. It has also introduced ne Coronavirus measures.

UK confirms two Omicron cases

With the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 spreading its wings around the globe, the UK reports record-shattering cases amid festive season approaching.

Omicron variant spreads across the world, with UK COVID-19 cases surging to a record high

British PM Boris Johson is facing yet another scandal of gathering involving Johnson during covid times. Johnson had been facing accusations of sleaze and his poor handling of the covid-19 pandemic. Now one of Britain's newspapers has published a photograph of a gathering involving Boris Johnson during the lockdown.

Row over UK PM Boris Johnson's alleged 'Garden Gathering'

COVID alert raised to level 4 in the UK as it reports the first death from Omicron variant of coronavirus. PM Boris Johnson raised concerns about which the virus is accelerating.

COVID-19: UK reports first death from Omicron variant | Alert raised to level 4

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a looming "tidal wave" of Omicron COVID-19 variant, and brought forward a target to give over-18s a booster jab by one month to the end of December.

UK PM Boris Johnson warns of looming 'tidal wave' of Omicron variant cases

UK PM Boris Johnson warns of a tidal wave of Omicron cases in the country as the UK raises alert to level 4. UK is currently witnessing a steady rise in COVID cases.

A tidal wave of Omicron approaching says PM Boris Johnson as the UK raises alert to level 4

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing yet another scandal. Johnson had been facing accusations of sleaze and his poor handling of the covid-19 pandemic. Now one of Britain's newspapers has published a photograph of a gathering involving Boris Johnson during the lockdown.

UK newspaper publishes photo of PM Boris Johnson at 'garden party'

London has witnessed massive chaos on Saturday after the clashes broke out between the police and protesters at an anti-vaccine protests outside PM Boris Johnson's residence.

Thousands demonstrate against Covid-19 curbs in London

Police clash with protesters over new COVID-19 restrictions in London

Britain’s Conservative Party on Friday crashed to an election defeat in a district it had represented for more than a century, dealing a second stinging blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a week of political turmoil that has shaken his leadership.

In a contest Thursday to select a new member of Parliament for North Shropshire, a district near the border with Wales, to the northwest of London, voters abandoned the Conservatives in favor of the centrist Liberal Democrats in one of the biggest voting upsets of recent years.

The victorious Liberal Democrat candidate, Helen Morgan, overturned a majority of almost 23,000 won by the former Conservative lawmaker, Owen Paterson at the last general election, in 2019. Paterson, a former Cabinet minister who had held the seat since 1997, resigned last month after breaking lobbying rules despite an unsuccessful effort by Johnson to save him.

Watch | Gravitas:&nbsp;Boris Johnson to face no-confidence vote soon?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-boris-johnson-to-face-no-confidence-vote-soon-437783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The defeat follows a rebellion Tuesday in which around 100 of Johnson’s own lawmakers refused to support government plans to control the rapid spread of the omicron coronavirus variant. As well as embarrassing Johnson, the mutiny forced him to rely on the support of the opposition Labour Party to pass the measures, sapping his authority.

Johnson’s standing has also been weakened by claims that his staff held Christmas parties in Downing Street last year at a time when they were forbidden under coronavirus restrictions. The Cabinet secretary, Simon Case, is investigating those allegations and his report is expected soon.

When the results in North Shropshire were announced early Friday, Morgan had secured 17,957 votes; Neil Shastri-Hurst, the Conservative, had gotten 12,032; and Ben Wood, for Labour, had received 3,686. The vote counting for Thursday’s election took place overnight.

“Tonight the people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people,” Morgan said after her victory. “They have said loudly and clearly, ‘Boris Johnson, the party is over.’ ”

She added that the voters had decided that Johnson was “unfit to lead and that they want a change.” She thanked Labour supporters who had given her their votes saying, “Together, we have shown that we can defeat the Conservatives not with deals behind closed doors, but with common sense at the ballot box.”

Although the Liberal Democrats had hoped to pull off a surprise victory, the size of their majority was striking and unexpected. Ed Davey, the leader of the party, described the result as “a watershed moment,” adding in a statement: “Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic, and last night, the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them.”

On Friday, Johnson said he accepted responsibility for the result.

“I totally understand people’s frustrations,” he said. “I hear what the voters are saying in North Shropshire. In all humility, I’ve got to accept that verdict.”

However, in an interview with Sky News, he also appeared to blame the news media, saying that “in the last few weeks, some things have been going very well, but what the people have been hearing is just a constant litany of stuff about politics and politicians.”

Oliver Dowden, chairman of the Conservative Party, also acknowledged the scale of the defeat.

“I know that voters in North Shropshire are fed up, and I know that they have given us a kicking,” he told the BBC, adding that he and his party had “heard that message from them loud and clear.”

Even before the loss of the seat, there was speculation that Johnson could face a formal challenge to his leadership a little more than two years after he won a landslide general election victory in December 2019.

To initiate a no-confidence vote, 54 of Johnson's lawmakers would have to write to Graham Brady, the chairman of the committee that represents Conservative backbenchers. Such letters are confidential but analysts do not believe that prospect is close. Parliament is now in recess, giving the prime minister a short political breathing space.

Even so, Friday’s result is likely to increase jitters in Downing Street because North Shropshire was one of the Conservative Party’s safest seats, in an area of Britain that supported Brexit, Johnson’s defining political project.

Despite their pro-European stance, the Liberal Democrats — who finished well behind Labour in North Shropshire in the 2019 general election — successfully presented themselves as the only credible challengers to the Tories in the constituency.

By doing so they appeared to have persuaded a significant number of Labour’s voters to switch to them in order to defeat the Conservatives. This year the Liberal Democrats caused an upset when they won a seat from Johnson’s party in the well-heeled district of Chesham and Amersham, northwest of London.

To some extent, the circumstances of Paterson’s resignation always made the North Shropshire seat hard to defend for the Conservative Party. But critics say that Johnson was the main architect of that situation through his unsuccessful efforts to save Paterson last month.

In addition to the furor over the Christmas parties, Johnson also faces questions about whether he misled his own ethics adviser over what he knew about the source of funding for an expensive makeover of his Downing Street apartment.

Roger Gale, a veteran Conservative lawmaker and a critic of Johnson, told Sky News that the prime minister had about three weeks over the holiday period to regroup, but would have to do so very fast.

“We’ve had two strikes: First of all, the Conservative Party in the House of Commons earlier this week, now this result,” Gale said. “One more strike and I think he’s out.”

In recent weeks Labour has moved ahead of the Conservatives in several opinion surveys which also recorded a drop in Johnson’s approval ratings. Political analysts said that could put the prime minister in a vulnerable position, given the transactional nature of his party.

“The Tory Party is a ruthless machine for winning elections,” said Jonathan Powell, a former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair. “If that is continuing into an election cycle, the party will get rid of him quickly.”

But, while the political climate remains volatile, most voters are probably more preoccupied by the effect of the omicron variant as they prepare for the holiday season.

Johnson has placed his hopes of political recovery on a speedy roll out of coronavirus vaccine boosters. This year his fortunes revived when Britain’s initial vaccination effort proved fast and effective, allowing the country to remove all restrictions in July.

Speaking before the North Shropshire result, Matthew Goodwin, a professor of politics at the University of Kent, said that Johnson could recover but may also be in danger of handing the next election to Labour through his errors.

“I don’t think it’s over for Johnson,” Goodwin said. “I think this is salvageable.” But, he added, “Johnson has entered that territory whereby oppositions don’t necessarily win elections because governments end up losing them.”

Britain’s Conservative Party on Friday crashed to an election defeat in a district it had represented for more than a century, dealing a second stinging blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a week of political turmoil that has shaken his leadership.

Britain’s Conservative Party on Friday crashed to an election defeat in a district it had represented for more than a century, dealing a second stinging blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a week of political turmoil that has shaken his leadership. In a contest Thursday to select a new member of Parliament for North Shropshire, a district near the border with Wales, to the northwest of London, voters abandoned the Conservatives in favor of the centrist Liberal Democrats in one of the biggest voting upsets of recent years. The victorious Liberal Democrat candidate, Helen Morgan, overturned a majority of almost 23,000 won by the former Conservative lawmaker, Owen Paterson at the last general election, in 2019. Paterson, a former Cabinet minister who had held the seat since 1997, resigned last month after breaking lobbying rules despite an unsuccessful effort by Johnson to save him. Watch | Gravitas: Boris Johnson to face no-confidence vote soon? The defeat follows a rebellion Tuesday in which around 100 of Johnson’s own lawmakers refused to support government plans to control the rapid spread of the omicron coronavirus variant. As well as embarrassing Johnson, the mutiny forced him to rely on the support of the opposition Labour Party to pass the measures, sapping his authority. Johnson’s standing has also been weakened by claims that his staff held Christmas parties in Downing Street last year at a time when they were forbidden under coronavirus restrictions. The Cabinet secretary, Simon Case, is investigating those allegations and his report is expected soon. When the results in North Shropshire were announced early Friday, Morgan had secured 17,957 votes; Neil Shastri-Hurst, the Conservative, had gotten 12,032; and Ben Wood, for Labour, had received 3,686. The vote counting for Thursday’s election took place overnight. “Tonight the people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people,” Morgan said after her victory. “They have said loudly and clearly, ‘Boris Johnson, the party is over.’ ” She added that the voters had decided that Johnson was “unfit to lead and that they want a change.” She thanked Labour supporters who had given her their votes saying, “Together, we have shown that we can defeat the Conservatives not with deals behind closed doors, but with common sense at the ballot box.” Although the Liberal Democrats had hoped to pull off a surprise victory, the size of their majority was striking and unexpected. Ed Davey, the leader of the party, described the result as “a watershed moment,” adding in a statement: “Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic, and last night, the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them.” On Friday, Johnson said he accepted responsibility for the result. “I totally understand people’s frustrations,” he said. “I hear what the voters are saying in North Shropshire. In all humility, I’ve got to accept that verdict.” However, in an interview with Sky News, he also appeared to blame the news media, saying that “in the last few weeks, some things have been going very well, but what the people have been hearing is just a constant litany of stuff about politics and politicians.” Oliver Dowden, chairman of the Conservative Party, also acknowledged the scale of the defeat. “I know that voters in North Shropshire are fed up, and I know that they have given us a kicking,” he told the BBC, adding that he and his party had “heard that message from them loud and clear.” Even before the loss of the seat, there was speculation that Johnson could face a formal challenge to his leadership a little more than two years after he won a landslide general election victory in December 2019. To initiate a no-confidence vote, 54 of Johnson's lawmakers would have to write to Graham Brady, the chairman of the committee that represents Conservative backbenchers. Such letters are confidential but analysts do not believe that prospect is close. Parliament is now in recess, giving the prime minister a short political breathing space. Even so, Friday’s result is likely to increase jitters in Downing Street because North Shropshire was one of the Conservative Party’s safest seats, in an area of Britain that supported Brexit, Johnson’s defining political project. Despite their pro-European stance, the Liberal Democrats — who finished well behind Labour in North Shropshire in the 2019 general election — successfully presented themselves as the only credible challengers to the Tories in the constituency. By doing so they appeared to have persuaded a significant number of Labour’s voters to switch to them in order to defeat the Conservatives. This year the Liberal Democrats caused an upset when they won a seat from Johnson’s party in the well-heeled district of Chesham and Amersham, northwest of London. To some extent, the circumstances of Paterson’s resignation always made the North Shropshire seat hard to defend for the Conservative Party. But critics say that Johnson was the main architect of that situation through his unsuccessful efforts to save Paterson last month. In addition to the furor over the Christmas parties, Johnson also faces questions about whether he misled his own ethics adviser over what he knew about the source of funding for an expensive makeover of his Downing Street apartment. Roger Gale, a veteran Conservative lawmaker and a critic of Johnson, told Sky News that the prime minister had about three weeks over the holiday period to regroup, but would have to do so very fast. “We’ve had two strikes: First of all, the Conservative Party in the House of Commons earlier this week, now this result,” Gale said. “One more strike and I think he’s out.” In recent weeks Labour has moved ahead of the Conservatives in several opinion surveys which also recorded a drop in Johnson’s approval ratings. Political analysts said that could put the prime minister in a vulnerable position, given the transactional nature of his party. “The Tory Party is a ruthless machine for winning elections,” said Jonathan Powell, a former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair. “If that is continuing into an election cycle, the party will get rid of him quickly.” But, while the political climate remains volatile, most voters are probably more preoccupied by the effect of the omicron variant as they prepare for the holiday season. Johnson has placed his hopes of political recovery on a speedy roll out of coronavirus vaccine boosters. This year his fortunes revived when Britain’s initial vaccination effort proved fast and effective, allowing the country to remove all restrictions in July. Speaking before the North Shropshire result, Matthew Goodwin, a professor of politics at the University of Kent, said that Johnson could recover but may also be in danger of handing the next election to Labour through his errors. “I don’t think it’s over for Johnson,” Goodwin said. “I think this is salvageable.” But, he added, “Johnson has entered that territory whereby oppositions don’t necessarily win elections because governments end up losing them.”

Britain's Conservatives lose 'safe' seat, dealing blow to Boris Johnson

Is UK PM Boris Johnson on his way out? After multiple scandals and a rebellion by his own MPs, he has suffered a humiliating defeat in North Shropshire bypolls. Reports suggest that Tory MPs are now planning to hold a no-confidence vote. Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Boris Johnson to face no-confidence vote soon?

UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has removed himself from the role of the head of the committee that is probing the alleged claims of parties held in Downing Street during last Christmas.

''To ensure the ongoing investigation retains public confidence the cabinet secretary has recused himself for the remainder of the process,'' said a statement from the office.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-boris-johnson-to-face-no-confidence-vote-soon-437783/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The work will be concluded by Sue Gray, second permanent secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

"She will ascertain the facts and present her findings to the prime minister."

A video emerged earlier this month showing Johnson's staff laughing and joking about a Downing Street party during a 2020 Christmas lockdown when such festivities were banned, resulting in condemnation from political opponents and the public.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-revelation-another-party-uk-pm-johnson-flouted-covid-rules-attending-yet-another-party-last-year-437588">Also read |&nbsp;Another revelation, another party: UK PM Johnson flouted covid rules attending yet another party last year</a>

Johnson, who has said he had been assured COVID rules were not broken and that there had been no party, asked Case to investigate.

The 57-year-old was already reeling from a series of scandals and setbacks, including around 100 of his lawmakers rebelling in parliament on Tuesday against the government's introduction of vaccine passes for large events.

He took "personal responsibility" for a crushing by-election defeat in a constituency never previously lost by his Conservative party.

The historic loss in a seat Johnson's ruling Tories held with a massive majority just two years ago came as, the government reported more than 93,000 new Covid-19 infections.

(With inputs from agencies)

UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has removed himself from the role of the head of the committee that is probing the alleged claims of parties held in Downing Street during last Christmas.

UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has removed himself from the role of the head of the committee that is probing the alleged claims of parties held in Downing Street during last Christmas. ''To ensure the ongoing investigation retains public confidence the cabinet secretary has recused himself for the remainder of the process,'' said a statement from the office. "The work will be concluded by Sue Gray, second permanent secretary at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. "She will ascertain the facts and present her findings to the prime minister." A video emerged earlier this month showing Johnson's staff laughing and joking about a Downing Street party during a 2020 Christmas lockdown when such festivities were banned, resulting in condemnation from political opponents and the public. Also read | Another revelation, another party: UK PM Johnson flouted covid rules attending yet another party last year Johnson, who has said he had been assured COVID rules were not broken and that there had been no party, asked Case to investigate. The 57-year-old was already reeling from a series of scandals and setbacks, including around 100 of his lawmakers rebelling in parliament on Tuesday against the government's introduction of vaccine passes for large events. He took "personal responsibility" for a crushing by-election defeat in a constituency never previously lost by his Conservative party. The historic loss in a seat Johnson's ruling Tories held with a massive majority just two years ago came as, the government reported more than 93,000 new Covid-19 infections. (With inputs from agencies)

UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case distances himself from Christmas party investigation

In another instance of the UK prime minister Boris Johnson breaking the rules, a new revelation has emerged about another party he attended. This has yet again raised questions about whether there was a culture of flouting rules.

Apparently, Boris Johnson attended a party hosted by staff at Number 10 in May of last year.

During the alleged social gathering on 15 May 2020, the prime minister spent about 15 minutes with staff, telling one staffer that they deserved a drink for battling coronavirus, a Guardian and Independent investigation revealed.

On that day, about 20 staff members drank wine and ate pizza following a press conference, some in offices inside No. 10 and others in the garden. The staff allegedly continued drinking until late at night.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/caught-red-handed-uk-pm-boris-johnson-partook-in-christmas-quiz-at-no-10-in-2020-436196">Caught red-handed? UK PM Boris Johnson partook in Christmas quiz at No 10 in 2020</a>

There were rules at the time prohibiting the meeting of more than two people. Only two people from different households were permitted to meet outside at a distance of 2 metres.&nbsp;

Matt Hancock, then health secretary, had earlier that evening urged people to stay at home as much as possible and to avoid taking risks.

This revelation follows a series of similar reports about what happened in Downing Street and elsewhere during the subsequent lockdown last Christmas, suggesting rules may have been broken for months.

The Metropolitan Police have also announced that they will contact two people who attended the Conservative Party's headquarters Christmas party on 14 December 2020, when indoor socializing between households was prohibited.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/declining-trust-in-boris-johnson-can-lead-to-increase-in-covid-cases-in-uk-436176">Declining trust in Boris Johnson can lead to increase in Covid cases in UK</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/declining-trust-in-boris-johnson-can-lead-to-increase-in-covid-cases-in-uk-436176">​​​​​​​</a>Around two dozen people were at the gathering, including Shaun Bailey, the Tories’ London mayoral candidate, and his campaign manager, Ben Mallet.

Scotland Yard did not name the people they sought to speak with, but it said it was investigating alleged violations of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations.

Sources said Hancock also attended the event that had a "celebratory" atmosphere due to the initial ease of restrictions and the pleasant weather in London.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/boris-johnson-is-in-trouble-437242">Boris Johnson is in trouble</a>

Both Johnson and Hancock were reportedly present when staff and aides were drinking, but it is not known if they drank themselves or stayed late.

Johnson's official spokesperson responded to questions regarding Johnson's presence at the alleged party and said that the garden is regularly used by Downing Street staff for meetings during the summer months.&nbsp;

He specified that the prime minister left the Downing Street garden shortly after 7 pm, only a few staff needed for work remained during part of the afternoon and evening.

Watch |&nbsp;Poll: Marred by several controversies, support for UK PM Boris Johnson sinking

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/poll-marred-by-several-controversies-support-for-uk-pm-boris-johnson-sinking-436471/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The claims are a further blow to Johnson, who is being widely ridiculed for insisting that no rules were broken following reports detailing apparent lockdown breaches last winter.

This included a party that was allegedly held on 18 December 2020 and included wine and cheese as well as a "secret Santa" exchange among staff. This was when all indoor socialising was prohibited in London.

There are also reports that Johnson attended an earlier event on 27 November last year, which was believed to be an impromptu farewell to an aide, Cleo Watson. 
&nbsp;

In another instance of the UK prime minister Boris Johnson breaking the rules, a new revelation has emerged about another party he attended. This has yet again raised questions about whether there was a culture of flouting rules.

In another instance of the UK prime minister Boris Johnson breaking the rules, a new revelation has emerged about another party he attended. This has yet again raised questions about whether there was a culture of flouting rules. Apparently, Boris Johnson attended a party hosted by staff at Number 10 in May of last year. During the alleged social gathering on 15 May 2020, the prime minister spent about 15 minutes with staff, telling one staffer that they deserved a drink for battling coronavirus, a Guardian and Independent investigation revealed. On that day, about 20 staff members drank wine and ate pizza following a press conference, some in offices inside No. 10 and others in the garden. The staff allegedly continued drinking until late at night. Also read | Caught red-handed? UK PM Boris Johnson partook in Christmas quiz at No 10 in 2020 There were rules at the time prohibiting the meeting of more than two people. Only two people from different households were permitted to meet outside at a distance of 2 metres. Matt Hancock, then health secretary, had earlier that evening urged people to stay at home as much as possible and to avoid taking risks. This revelation follows a series of similar reports about what happened in Downing Street and elsewhere during the subsequent lockdown last Christmas, suggesting rules may have been broken for months. The Metropolitan Police have also announced that they will contact two people who attended the Conservative Party's headquarters Christmas party on 14 December 2020, when indoor socializing between households was prohibited. Also read: Declining trust in Boris Johnson can lead to increase in Covid cases in UK Around two dozen people were at the gathering, including Shaun Bailey, the Tories’ London mayoral candidate, and his campaign manager, Ben Mallet. Scotland Yard did not name the people they sought to speak with, but it said it was investigating alleged violations of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations. Sources said Hancock also attended the event that had a "celebratory" atmosphere due to the initial ease of restrictions and the pleasant weather in London. Also read | Boris Johnson is in trouble Both Johnson and Hancock were reportedly present when staff and aides were drinking, but it is not known if they drank themselves or stayed late. Johnson's official spokesperson responded to questions regarding Johnson's presence at the alleged party and said that the garden is regularly used by Downing Street staff for meetings during the summer months. He specified that the prime minister left the Downing Street garden shortly after 7 pm, only a few staff needed for work remained during part of the afternoon and evening. Watch | Poll: Marred by several controversies, support for UK PM Boris Johnson sinking The claims are a further blow to Johnson, who is being widely ridiculed for insisting that no rules were broken following reports detailing apparent lockdown breaches last winter. This included a party that was allegedly held on 18 December 2020 and included wine and cheese as well as a "secret Santa" exchange among staff. This was when all indoor socialising was prohibited in London. There are also reports that Johnson attended an earlier event on 27 November last year, which was believed to be an impromptu farewell to an aide, Cleo Watson.

Another revelation, another party: UK PM Johnson flouted covid rules attending yet another party last year

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has held a Downing Street press conference after the UK reported a record 78,610 daily COVID-19 infections amid surging transmission of the Omicron variant.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a COVID-19 press conference from Downing Street

UK PM Boris Johnson faced a tough time during a session in the house of commons. Just before the parliament heads for a Christmas recess period. Johnson received a lot of flak for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic once again.

UK PM Boris Johnson grilled over handling of covid-19

UK has reported highest number of cases since the pandemic struck last year. Over 78,000 new cases have been confirmed in UK in a single day. The tally is around 10,000 more than the previous highest figure in the month of January this year. UK PM Boris Johnson had earlier stressed on the need of booster doses to combat the situation arising out of the new Omicron variant in the UK. In the wake of continuously rising cases of Omicron variant, Chief Medical Officer of England Prof Chris Whitty has asked people to get their booster doses as soon as possible.

Omicron: UK reports over 78,000 new cases, highest spike in a day since January

During the Covid pandemic, we Britons have developed a tabloid obsession with “saving Christmas,” as if it were a beloved pet in danger of being run over.

Yet our Christmas is indeed in peril. The Omicron coronavirus variant, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said could lead to a “tidal wave” of cases, threatens to upend people’s best-laid festive plans. After last year, when the government imposed restrictions on household mixing on the cusp of Christmas, the possibility of yet another fractured Yuletide is close to retraumatizing the nation.

Ominously, the Christmas tree the Norwegians give us every year to stand in Trafalgar Square, in thanks for Britain’s help during World War II, is notably spindly and bare this winter.

To make matters worse, our responsible queen has been unwell. A royal biographer described her as entering a new phase, as if she were developing an obsession with goth aesthetics. And amid it all, Mr. Johnson’s government has sunk to new lows of corruption, sleaze and shrugging incompetence. The mood is far from merry.

It was very different earlier in the year. The government rolled out vaccines faster than any other country in Europe, and Britain hosted the Group of 7 meeting and a global climate summit in November. Any adverse effects of Brexit could be blamed on the pandemic. Things felt shinier for a while, especially if you didn’t look too closely at the rising child poverty figures or the government’s plans to curtail protest, criminalize refugees and exert more control over the judiciary.

But winter is here. New restrictions, called Plan B, are being rolled out. People in England are advised to work from home, and masks and Covid passes will be mandatory in more places. The rules, as ever under Mr. Johnson, feel arbitrary and ill thought out. Work from home, but go to the pantomime; wear a mask in a taxi but not in a pub. And we don’t know what further restrictions will be imposed as Omicron spreads. The problem is: Will people follow them when it is likely that Mr. Johnson — if the past is any indication — will not?

After all, breaking restrictions is precisely what has landed him in trouble. In December last year, according to multiple sources, there was a party at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official residence. At the time, parties were forbidden, and people were dying of Covid-19 in hospitals all over Britain, denied the comfort of their loved ones. That parties should come back to haunt Mr. Johnson is ironic, since we liked him for his levity. But levity, in a time of pandemic, is less charming than it once was.

The details of the party have emerged inch by inch. Then last week, a video was leaked in which the prime minister’s advisers pondered how to answer media questions about the party. His spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, who has since resigned, giggled as she said, “This fictional party was a business meeting — and it was not socially distanced.”

They all laughed. And in that laughter, it was horribly clear that Mr. Johnson’s tendency to surround himself with the inexperienced and entitled leaves a vacuum where a functioning government should be. Ms. Stratton was hired to be the voice of his government and to give a daily briefing in the American style. In the end, only one was broadcast — and it was a rehearsal, a fake.

There is every sign that the spell Mr. Johnson cast over the country is cracking, that people are waking up to the truth of him. The latest polls show the Conservative Party sliding to second place while Mr. Johnson’s approval ratings continue their descent. It feels a long time since the elections in December 2019, when the country gave him an enormous majority of 80 seats.

In retrospect, the election campaign was explicitly romantic. Mr. Johnson’s highest-profile campaign advert was a parody of a scene from the film “Love Actually,” in which a man stands outside a married woman’s home and tells her, using written signs, that he loves her. (Yes, it’s creepy.) The signs in the ad were Brexit-related — “With any luck, by next year we’ll have Brexit done” — but the meaning was clear. Mr. Johnson was a lover, and the country was seduced.

Infatuations die hard but fast. Now two-thirds of the country does not trust him, and half thinks he should resign. The mood in his Conservative Party is, according to one member, “sulfurous.” Even cabinet ministers believe he has imposed Plan B to distract from the “party crisis.” Many Conservative legislators, furious at the prime minister, are planning to oppose the new restrictions. A local election on Thursday, caused by the resignation of a corrupt legislator Mr. Johnson had disastrously tried to save, might suggest how alienated Conservative voters are.

Elsewhere, allegations of corruption continue to mount. There is a long-brewing scandal over the funding of the renovation of Mr. Johnson’s flat on Downing Street. (The redecoration was predictably garish.) Last week the Electoral Commission fined the Conservative Party 17,800 pounds, or about $23,500, for not accurately reporting the donations that paid for the refurbishment — and the government standards adviser is reportedly considering resigning after apparently being misled by Mr. Johnson.

If it all seems trivial, then so is Mr. Johnson. The country faces serious problems — not just the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit but also an energy crisis, economic stagnation and vertiginous inflation. There is no sign that the prime minister can see, much less solve, them. A brinkman seeing how far he can go, he is too preoccupied with his survival. His address to the nation on Sunday night was a tellingly tired, perfunctory affair. It could have been an email.

As we watch Mr. Johnson’s narrative play out, Britain feels like a country put on hold. We don’t know whether the prime minister can save himself, let alone Christmas.

During the Covid pandemic, we Britons have developed a tabloid obsession with “saving Christmas,” as if it were a beloved pet in danger of being run over. Yet our Christmas is indeed in peril.

During the Covid pandemic, we Britons have developed a tabloid obsession with “saving Christmas,” as if it were a beloved pet in danger of being run over. Yet our Christmas is indeed in peril. The Omicron coronavirus variant, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said could lead to a “tidal wave” of cases, threatens to upend people’s best-laid festive plans. After last year, when the government imposed restrictions on household mixing on the cusp of Christmas, the possibility of yet another fractured Yuletide is close to retraumatizing the nation. Ominously, the Christmas tree the Norwegians give us every year to stand in Trafalgar Square, in thanks for Britain’s help during World War II, is notably spindly and bare this winter. To make matters worse, our responsible queen has been unwell. A royal biographer described her as entering a new phase, as if she were developing an obsession with goth aesthetics. And amid it all, Mr. Johnson’s government has sunk to new lows of corruption, sleaze and shrugging incompetence. The mood is far from merry. It was very different earlier in the year. The government rolled out vaccines faster than any other country in Europe, and Britain hosted the Group of 7 meeting and a global climate summit in November. Any adverse effects of Brexit could be blamed on the pandemic. Things felt shinier for a while, especially if you didn’t look too closely at the rising child poverty figures or the government’s plans to curtail protest, criminalize refugees and exert more control over the judiciary. But winter is here. New restrictions, called Plan B, are being rolled out. People in England are advised to work from home, and masks and Covid passes will be mandatory in more places. The rules, as ever under Mr. Johnson, feel arbitrary and ill thought out. Work from home, but go to the pantomime; wear a mask in a taxi but not in a pub. And we don’t know what further restrictions will be imposed as Omicron spreads. The problem is: Will people follow them when it is likely that Mr. Johnson — if the past is any indication — will not? After all, breaking restrictions is precisely what has landed him in trouble. In December last year, according to multiple sources, there was a party at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s official residence. At the time, parties were forbidden, and people were dying of Covid-19 in hospitals all over Britain, denied the comfort of their loved ones. That parties should come back to haunt Mr. Johnson is ironic, since we liked him for his levity. But levity, in a time of pandemic, is less charming than it once was. The details of the party have emerged inch by inch. Then last week, a video was leaked in which the prime minister’s advisers pondered how to answer media questions about the party. His spokeswoman Allegra Stratton, who has since resigned, giggled as she said, “This fictional party was a business meeting — and it was not socially distanced.” They all laughed. And in that laughter, it was horribly clear that Mr. Johnson’s tendency to surround himself with the inexperienced and entitled leaves a vacuum where a functioning government should be. Ms. Stratton was hired to be the voice of his government and to give a daily briefing in the American style. In the end, only one was broadcast — and it was a rehearsal, a fake. There is every sign that the spell Mr. Johnson cast over the country is cracking, that people are waking up to the truth of him. The latest polls show the Conservative Party sliding to second place while Mr. Johnson’s approval ratings continue their descent. It feels a long time since the elections in December 2019, when the country gave him an enormous majority of 80 seats. In retrospect, the election campaign was explicitly romantic. Mr. Johnson’s highest-profile campaign advert was a parody of a scene from the film “Love Actually,” in which a man stands outside a married woman’s home and tells her, using written signs, that he loves her. (Yes, it’s creepy.) The signs in the ad were Brexit-related — “With any luck, by next year we’ll have Brexit done” — but the meaning was clear. Mr. Johnson was a lover, and the country was seduced. Infatuations die hard but fast. Now two-thirds of the country does not trust him, and half thinks he should resign. The mood in his Conservative Party is, according to one member, “sulfurous.” Even cabinet ministers believe he has imposed Plan B to distract from the “party crisis.” Many Conservative legislators, furious at the prime minister, are planning to oppose the new restrictions. A local election on Thursday, caused by the resignation of a corrupt legislator Mr. Johnson had disastrously tried to save, might suggest how alienated Conservative voters are. Elsewhere, allegations of corruption continue to mount. There is a long-brewing scandal over the funding of the renovation of Mr. Johnson’s flat on Downing Street. (The redecoration was predictably garish.) Last week the Electoral Commission fined the Conservative Party 17,800 pounds, or about $23,500, for not accurately reporting the donations that paid for the refurbishment — and the government standards adviser is reportedly considering resigning after apparently being misled by Mr. Johnson. If it all seems trivial, then so is Mr. Johnson. The country faces serious problems — not just the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit but also an energy crisis, economic stagnation and vertiginous inflation. There is no sign that the prime minister can see, much less solve, them. A brinkman seeing how far he can go, he is too preoccupied with his survival. His address to the nation on Sunday night was a tellingly tired, perfunctory affair. It could have been an email. As we watch Mr. Johnson’s narrative play out, Britain feels like a country put on hold. We don’t know whether the prime minister can save himself, let alone Christmas.

Boris Johnson is in trouble

The United kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson answered questions in parliament's last session ahead of Christmas recess.

UK PM Boris Johnson answers question in parliament's last session ahead of Christmas recess

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion. 75 Tory MPs are expected to vote against his 'Plan B' for Omicron variant. The 'mutiny' comes amid a wave of scandals & setbacks that have plagued 10 Downing Street. Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Boris Johnson faces a rebellion | 75 MPs to vote against 'Covid Plan B'

Nightclub owners in London have criticised new restrictions to halt the spread of coronavirus variants that will go into effect on Wednesday.

London nightclub owners criticise UK's new Coronavirus rules for venues

British MPs have voted in favour of imposing new Coronavirus measures to combat Omicron variant, despite a significant Tory rebellion. Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered the biggest rebellion of his time, with the government relying on the support of the opposition Labour Party to get the measures passed.

UK MPs vote in favour of new Coronavirus measures

British MPs have voted for further measures to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a sizeable rebellion against the measures from within Prime Minister Boris Johnson's own Conservative party.

UK MPs vote for new COVID measures, amid rebellion against PM Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion as members of the parliament are set to vote on the latest coronavirus restrictions imposed by him.

At least 60 angry Tory MPs are reported to be set to rebel over the restrictions at a series of votes to make them law.

These include the government's new rules on mask-wearing, testing, self-isolation, and vaccine passes, warning they undermine public freedoms.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-parody-of-a-pm-boris-johnsons-credibility-problem-435618/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

They have accused Johnson and his ministers of enforcing "disproportionate" curbs based on incomplete evidence.

Despite having a majority with 80 seats, that has forced the government to turn to the main opposition Labour party, which supports the package, to push the votes through.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/caught-red-handed-uk-pm-boris-johnson-partook-in-christmas-quiz-at-no-10-in-2020-436196" hreflang="en">Caught red-handed? UK PM Boris Johnson partook in Christmas quiz at No 10 in 2020</a>

This comes after Johnson faced criticism over reported parties in his Downing Street office last year when such gatherings were banned during a coronavirus lockdown, questions over who funded a pricey refurbishment of his apartment, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Defending Johnson, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Omicron was "a grave threat" and even though hospital admissions were low, action was needed.

"They are measures that I think the situation demands, because when the facts change, our response must change too," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/conservative-party-loses-poll-lead-over-labour-after-johnsons-christmas-party-scandal-435847" hreflang="en">Conservative Party loses poll lead over Labour after Johnson's Christmas party scandal</a>

Several Conservative lawmakers say some colleagues have written letters of no confidence in Johnson, the first step required to seek a leadership challenge.

The Conservatives have 361 MPs, so 55 would need to write such letters for a confidence vote to be called.

"The Conservative party has always been very ruthless when it comes to getting rid of leaders that were not working," said political commentator Robin Pettitt.

Johnson swept to power in 2019 on a wave of popular support for his pledge to enforce Britain's departure from the European Union.

(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion as members of the parliament are set to vote on the latest coronavirus restrictions imposed by him. At least 60 angry Tory MPs are reported to be set to rebel over the restrictions at a series of votes to make them law.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a rebellion as members of the parliament are set to vote on the latest coronavirus restrictions imposed by him. At least 60 angry Tory MPs are reported to be set to rebel over the restrictions at a series of votes to make them law. These include the government's new rules on mask-wearing, testing, self-isolation, and vaccine passes, warning they undermine public freedoms. They have accused Johnson and his ministers of enforcing "disproportionate" curbs based on incomplete evidence. Despite having a majority with 80 seats, that has forced the government to turn to the main opposition Labour party, which supports the package, to push the votes through. Also read | Caught red-handed? UK PM Boris Johnson partook in Christmas quiz at No 10 in 2020 This comes after Johnson faced criticism over reported parties in his Downing Street office last year when such gatherings were banned during a coronavirus lockdown, questions over who funded a pricey refurbishment of his apartment, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Defending Johnson, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Omicron was "a grave threat" and even though hospital admissions were low, action was needed. "They are measures that I think the situation demands, because when the facts change, our response must change too," he said. Also read | Conservative Party loses poll lead over Labour after Johnson's Christmas party scandal Several Conservative lawmakers say some colleagues have written letters of no confidence in Johnson, the first step required to seek a leadership challenge. The Conservatives have 361 MPs, so 55 would need to write such letters for a confidence vote to be called. "The Conservative party has always been very ruthless when it comes to getting rid of leaders that were not working," said political commentator Robin Pettitt. Johnson swept to power in 2019 on a wave of popular support for his pledge to enforce Britain's departure from the European Union. (With inputs from agencies)

Angry Conservative MPs can rebel against UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

The UK has reported the world's first omicron death in less than three weeks, this new variant has spread to more than 60 countries. Is India ready to contain Omicron? Palki Sharma tells you why India needs to prepare for a surge

Gravitas: Wuhan virus pandemic - Why India needs to prepare for a new surge

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a major backlash from his own MPs over new COVID-19 restrictions. Dozens of Conservative party have slammed new rules including face mask wearing, testing, self-isolation and vaccine passes.

UK PM Boris Johnson faces backlash over new COVID-19 rules

UK PM Boris Johnson's approval rating plummets to minus 35%. Marred by several controversies, public support seems to have faded away for the democratic leader.

Poll: Marred by several controversies, support for UK PM Boris Johnson sinking

boris-johnson

Boris Johnson, News on Boris Johnson, stories on Boris Johnson, articles on Boris Johnson, Boris Johnson stories at Wion, Boris Johnson news, Boris Johnson latest news

boris johnson

UK PM Boris Johnson under pressure not to impose any restrictions during Christmas

UK PM Boris Johnson: No Christmas lockdown for Britain yet, but looking at all kinds of options

'Wine & Cheese' photo latest blow to controversy-ridden UK PM Boris Johnson

UK experts disagree with Boris Johnson's plan of delaying Covid regulations

UK confirms two Omicron cases

Omicron variant spreads across the world, with UK COVID-19 cases surging to a record high

Row over UK PM Boris Johnson's alleged 'Garden Gathering'

COVID-19: UK reports first death from Omicron variant | Alert raised to level 4

UK PM Boris Johnson warns of looming 'tidal wave' of Omicron variant cases

A tidal wave of Omicron approaching says PM Boris Johnson as the UK raises alert to level 4

UK newspaper publishes photo of PM Boris Johnson at 'garden party'

Thousands demonstrate against Covid-19 curbs in London

Police clash with protesters over new COVID-19 restrictions in London

Britain's Conservatives lose 'safe' seat, dealing blow to Boris Johnson

Gravitas: Boris Johnson to face no-confidence vote soon?

UK Cabinet Secretary Simon Case distances himself from Christmas party investigation

Another revelation, another party: UK PM Johnson flouted covid rules attending yet another party last year

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a COVID-19 press conference from Downing Street

UK PM Boris Johnson grilled over handling of covid-19

Omicron: UK reports over 78,000 new cases, highest spike in a day since January

Omicron: UK reports over 78,000 new cases, highest spike in a day since January

Boris Johnson is in trouble

UK PM Boris Johnson answers question in parliament's last session ahead of Christmas recess

Gravitas: Boris Johnson faces a rebellion | 75 MPs to vote against 'Covid Plan B'

London nightclub owners criticise UK's new Coronavirus rules for venues

UK MPs vote in favour of new Coronavirus measures