The comments made by Simon Hart, the Secretary of State for Wales, on Twitter on 13 December 2021.
The evidence is clear that we cannot take any chances against the wave of omicron infections that are upon us. The UK Government is working with Welsh Government, and is supplying enough booster vaccines for every adult by the new year. Please come forward and get your booster.
The comments made by Amanda Spielman, the Ofsted Chief Inspector, on 13 December 2021.
I am fully aware that schools are still facing very significant challenges as a result of the pandemic. So, I’m very pleased to report that schools are improving and being recognised for doing so. In fact, inspection results this term are very much in line with what we saw before the pandemic began, if not slightly improved. That will be a reassurance to parents and to schools as well.
Our inspections are intended to be constructive and supportive, so I’m pleased that our survey results show they are valued by the vast majority of school leaders who have experienced one this term. But inspections are also incredibly important for children, who only get one chance at education and have already lost so much in the last 20 months.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 13 December 2021.
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. In London, we need to take bold action to ensure that we not only halt the decline of biodiversity in our natural environment but pave the way for growth and change. That’s why I’ve announced my new Rewilding Fund, which will help restore the capital’s precious wildlife sites, improve biodiversity and ensure all Londoners have a thriving web of nature on their doorstep. And as part of our Green New Deal, we’re supporting young Londoners to gain the skills required for jobs that help secure a future for London’s natural environment.
I am proud to have helped London to be recognised as the world’s first National Park City in 2019, and this funding shows my commitment to protecting that status and doing all I can to protect London’s amazing network of green spaces, rivers and natural habitats.
The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 11 December 2021.
My thoughts today are with the families and friends of Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor.
The evidence given to this inquest was deeply upsetting, and the quality of the investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service at the time of the murders has raised a number of concerns. The impact this has had on the victims’ families and friends – on top of the devastating trauma of the murder of their loved ones – is profoundly distressing, and has damaged the confidence of the LGBTQ+ community in the police.
While the Met Police has apologised for its failings and made changes since these horrific murders were committed, I have asked Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services [HMICFRS] to conduct an independent inspection into the standards of investigations carried out by the Met Police and ensure there is a clear plan of action.
It is vital that London’s LGBTQ+ community has confidence in our police, and Baroness Casey’s independent review into the Met’s culture and standards, will address the issues of misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia, and scrutinise police processes and standards of behaviour amongst officers and staff.
These young men and their families deserved so much better and I will do everything in my power to make sure that the failings that contributed to the deaths of these innocent young men can never be repeated.
The comments made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business and Energy Secretary, on 13 December 2021.
Our biggest ever renewables auction opening today will solidify the UK’s role as a world-leader in renewable electricity, while backing new, future-proof industries across the country to create new jobs.
By generating more renewable energy in the UK, we can ensure greater energy independence by moving away from volatile global fossil fuel prices, all while driving down the cost of new energy.
The comments made by Therese Coffey, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on 13 December 2021.
Investing in measures to fight fraud protects honest taxpayers’ money and stops criminals funding their illicit activities off the back of our welfare system.
We know the characteristics of a suspicious claim. This half a billion-pound cash injection is a clear message to fraudsters and criminal gangs: Anyone trying to con us will get caught out.
The comments made by Andrew Adonis on 12 December 2021.
A change of prime minister needs to precipitate a fundamental change of policy on Europe to get us back into the customs union and single market. It has got to correct the fundamental error of the Johnson premiership, not continue it.
The comments made by James Wild, the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, on 8 December 2021.
People across Norfolk have made incredible sacrifices throughout Covid and followed the rules, meaning they have missed out on so many important moments. I share the anger of my constituents at the footage that has emerged. We urgently need to establish the facts and if rules have been broken then consequences for those involved must follow.
The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on 12 December 2021.
[asked by Andrew Marr about Boris Johnson hosting a Christmas quiz]
Well, I do think that new allegation is very serious and the reason it’s serious is because, of course, at the time the Government was asking the public not to see loved ones, and many people didn’t see loved ones last Christmas at all. Many of them didn’t see their loved ones again and that’s why this has created such fury. This is only the latest of the allegations and I remember it was only Wednesday that the Prime Minister stood up in Parliament and said he was furious that he’d just found out that there may have been breaches of the rules in Downing Street.
He was talking about the party on the 18th December. Now we learn this morning that three days earlier he was involved – he was leading a quiz in Downing Street, which if the reports are accurate involved groups of people – I think it was being said up to 24 people in one room, using their computer screens but actually involving themselves in a social event. And so he’d be doubly furious now he finds that he himself has been involved in something which may have breached the rules.
The statement made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 12 December 2021.
Good evening, over the past year we have shown that vaccination is the key to beating Covid, and that it works.
The UK was the first country in the world to administer a vaccine, we delivered the fastest roll-out in Europe, and we’ve begun the fastest booster campaign too, with over half a million jabs delivered yesterday alone.
And these achievements made possible by the extraordinary efforts of our NHS, including thousands of GPs and volunteer vaccinators – have literally saved countless lives and livelihoods in this country.
But I need to speak to you this evening, because I am afraid we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, Omicron, and we must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection to keep our friends and loved ones safe.
Earlier today, the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers raised the Covid Alert level to 4, its second highest level, because of the evidence that Omicron is doubling here in the UK every two to three days.
We know from bitter experience how these exponential curves develop.
No-one should be in any doubt: there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming, and I’m afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need.
But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose
– a booster dose –
we can all bring our level of protection back up.
And I know there will be some people watching who will be asking whether Omicron is less severe than previous variants, and whether we really need to go out and get that booster. And the answer is yes we do.
Do not make the mistake of thinking Omicron can’t hurt you; can’t make you and your loved ones seriously ill.
We’ve already seen hospitalisations doubling in a week in South Africa. And we have patients with Omicron in hospital here in the UK right now.
At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe, and even if that proved to be true, we already know it is so much more transmissible, that a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths.
So we must act now.
Today we are launching the Omicron Emergency Boost, a national mission unlike anything we have done before in the vaccination programme – to Get Boosted Now.
A fortnight ago I said we would offer every eligible adult a booster by the end of January.
Today, in light of this Omicron Emergency, I am bringing that target forward by a whole month.
Everyone eligible aged 18 and over in England will have the chance to get their booster before the New Year.
And we have spoken today to the Devolved Administrations, to confirm the UK Government will provide additional support to accelerate vaccinations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To hit the pace we need, we’ll need to match the NHS’s best vaccination day yet – and then beat it day after day.
This will require an extraordinary effort.
And as we focus on boosters and make this new target achievable, it will mean some other appointments will need to be postponed until the New Year.
But if we don’t do this now, the wave of Omicron could be so big that cancellations and disruptions, like the loss of cancer appointments, would be even greater next year.
And I know the pressures on everyone in our NHS – from our GPs, doctors and nurses to our porters – all of whom have worked incredibly hard and we thank them for the amazing job they have done.
But I say directly to those of you on the front line,
I must ask you to make another extraordinary effort now, so we can protect you and your colleagues – and above all your patients – from even greater pressures next year.
So from tomorrow in England, we are opening up the booster to every adult over 18 who has had a second dose of the vaccine at least three months ago.
The NHS Booking System will be open for these younger age groups from Wednesday, and that’s the best way to guarantee your slot, but in some places you can walk in from tomorrow.
We will also assist this emergency operation by deploying 42 military planning teams across every region, standing up additional vaccine sites and mobile units, extending opening hours so clinics are open 7 days a week, with more appointments early in the morning, in the evening, and at weekends, and training thousands more volunteer vaccinators.
And we’ll set out further steps in the days ahead.
It’s because of the threat from Omicron that I announced on Wednesday we will move to plan B in England.
You must wear a face covering in indoor public spaces.
From tomorrow, work from home if you can.
And from Wednesday, subject to a vote in parliament, you’ll need to show a negative lateral flow test to get into nightclubs and some large events if you’re not double vaccinated.
These measures will help slow the spread of Omicron.
But we must go further and get boosted now.
If you haven’t yet had a vaccine at all, then please get yourself at least some protection with a jab as quickly as possible.
If you’ve already had your booster, encourage your friends and family to do the same.
We are a great country. We have the vaccines to protect our people.
So let’s do it. Let’s Get Boosted Now.
Get Boosted Now for yourself, for your friends and your family.
Get Boosted Now to protect jobs and livelihoods across this country.
Get Boosted Now to protect our NHS, our freedoms and our way of life.
Get Boosted Now.
Thank you very much.