UK COVID LIVE: Starmer challenges Tory MPs to remove PM, says he is ‘not fit for office’; Omicron Cobra meeting called

Good Morning. boris johnson It’s been a rough week and it shows no signs of getting any better. There are three stories around this morning, any of which will be seriously tough for No. 10. Cumulatively, they confirm that there is a continuing crisis.

Firstly, it is being reported that the PM’s Director of Communications Jack Doyle was present and he gave a speech at the Christmas party on December 18 last year, in which he seems to have violated the lockdown rules. You would expect a senior member of staff to attend a staff party, but so far this has not been reported as a fact. Given that Doyle has been in charge of the communication response to this story (yet, roughly, “there were no parties, and no rules were broken”), this does not appear ideal.

Second, Christopher Geidt, an independent adviser to the prime minister at ministerial level, is said to be close to resigning as the Election Commission published a report yesterday saying Johnson may have lied to him that he was given the No. 10 flat. What was known about the renewal. Telegraph (Paywall) Reports that Lord Geidt “will consider his position if Mr Johnson does not satisfactorily explain why he did not share important evidence with him during the investigation of the case earlier this year”.

today morning Laura KuensbergThe BBC’s political editors caution that resignation is not imminent.

And, third, Johnson is on course for a significant Tory revolt when lawmakers vote on new Covid rules next week.

Another development took place at Partygate this morning; Labor is encouraging the Metropolitan Police to reverse His decision not to check out Number 10 Christmas. The police are actively free in this country – well, most people think – and Sadiq Khan, who oversees the weather as mayor of London, and wes streetingThe shadow health secretary acknowledged this in his interview this morning. But he also delivered an implicit message that in fact denied it, by clarifying what he thought the season should do.

In an interview with the Today programme, when asked whether the police should investigate Number 10 parties, KHAN First of all, he stressed the importance of police independence. He said:

I think when you are the police and crime commissioner it is very important that you do not interfere with the operational independence of the police. Just imagine if I give instructions to the police and try to give the impression that they should follow a certain path. You will understand that if someone has accused the police of a criminal offense then the police have been accused of bias or prejudice.

But then he changed his attitude.

That being said, I think it’s really important for the police, generally speaking, to investigate crimes without fear or favor and go wherever the evidence points to them.

When asked whether he felt that this was happening in this case, Khan said that he felt that he should not give instructions to the police. But he went

It is really important, in all cases, for the police to follow up on evidence, and often find evidence. The police themselves are doing a great job in finding the evidence. They don’t wait to send an envelope with proof, or a tape… I think that’s a huge amount of concern. There is a public interest in regards to the health of individuals, but it makes a difference if the rule makers appear to be the rule breakers.

Khan said violent crime should be the priority of the police. But then he deployed another “what is being said” (a verbal cut-off that brings to mind) Famous quote about the word “but”), and argued that it is bad for public confidence in the police if the allegations of breaking the law are not investigated. He’s gone:

Just imagine if the public’s trust is lost, then the police will investigate the crime. They will stop reporting the crime, they will stop being witnesses. But even the whole fabric of trust and convention, which is vital to consent policing, is shattered.

And later, at the same event, when asked if he thought the police should be asked to look for evidence about what happened at the Christmas party, Streeting Said Johnson had already said he was ready to hand over the evidence to the police, “so I guess they’re waiting for it, and I think he’ll be doing that very soon”.

Streeting sanctioned politicians should not dictate operational policing. But he went

All the people expect, and I speak for them, that Metropolitan Police Will act without fear or favour, because on 18 December 2020 some people in Ilford, where I am an MP, organized an illegal assembly, and were being tried in court.

And people expect the same standards to be applied to everyone in this country whether you are the Prime Minister or you are just an ordinary citizen.

Here is the agenda for the day.

11.30 am: The lobby briefing takes place in Downing Street.

12:00 pm: The Office for National Statistics publishes its weekly COVID Infection Survey.

12:00 pm: Former Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister Dominic Cummings attended An online Q&A on Substack.

12.15 pm: Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford holds a COVID briefing.

12.15 pm: Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a COVID briefing.

Also today Brexit Minister David Frost held another meeting with his EU opposite number, Maros efčovič, on the Northern Irish Protocol.

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