Boris Johnson says Christmas parties can go ahead – despite what Chris Whitty said about prioritising social interactions – but people should "think carefully".
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 15, 2021
"We're not cancelling events, we're not closing hospitality, we're not cancelling parties or people's ability to mix".
When you wake up the morning after a massive session, and are trying to piece together what happened last night: pic.twitter.com/DkzLavPweZ
— Hannah Al-Othman (@HannahAlOthman) December 15, 2021
This country would be in far better place if Chris Whitty were legally mandated to stand next to Boris Johnson at all times, to explain why everything he’s just said is complete bollocks.
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) December 15, 2021
imagine in March 2020 being told the Johnson-Whitty Covid press conferences would still be going on December 2021 and beyond
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) December 15, 2021
This went really well last time. #ToryShambles #Omicron pic.twitter.com/8fc4gtfLlD
— Brendan May (@bmay) December 15, 2021
New @IndependentSage statement:
— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) December 15, 2021
Omicron is doubling so fast that sheer numbers will v likely outweigh any advantage of reduced severity (if it exists). To prevent NHS being overwhelmed in a few weeks & for a safer Xmas we need to act now. Not next week, not after Xmas, now. 1/2
Drowning in omicron news? My takeaway: highly transmissible, can re-infect those who’ve had covid or vaccinated but likely less severe illness. High attack rates at parties/dinners. Best to reduce close contacts heading into Xmas, avoid crowds & wear masks in shops/transport.
— Prof. Devi Sridhar 🌈 (@devisridhar) December 14, 2021
Prof Chris Whitty suggests idea that South African data shows omicron is milder is wrong.
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) December 15, 2021
"There's a danger that people have over-interpreted this, think it's not going to be a problem… I want to be clear, this is going to be a problem."
There is carnage on the way – caused by Johnson https://t.co/QD2IFeEnMR
— Sara-endipidy🇪🇺 #FBPE (@sara_endipidy) December 15, 2021
Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 14, 2021
It’s not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene.
Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well. pic.twitter.com/YAVfJXsviQ
'This is just the beginning of an extraordinary acceleration'.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 15, 2021
Dr David Nabarro from the @WHO issues a strong warning about the Omicron variant, saying it's "vital" we reduce its spread as it's likely to get "extremely serious in the next two weeks".https://t.co/DpWeuOGHDR pic.twitter.com/hKRhElLHNY
Probably the most bizarre thing from PMQs was watching Boris Johnson say that it was “not true” that he needed Labour votes to get his Covid measures through last night.
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 15, 2021
Again – just bizarre to deny the basic maths of what would’ve happened if Labour had opposed.
Boris Johnson can't tell us to cut down on socialising to tackle Covid because he didn't.
— Jo Maugham (@JolyonMaugham) December 15, 2021
Boris Johnson can't impose meaningful restrictions to tackle Covid because his MPs won't back him.
Boris Johnson can't tackle Covid. And we're going to pay the price.
NEW: Senior Tories are braced to lose the North Shropshire by-election tomorrow.
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) December 15, 2021
“We are going to lose” says one.
Liberal Democrats concur “we think we can do it” but much rests on whether soft Conservative voters flip yellow or decide to stay at home.https://t.co/qVBpK71Y8h
For one hundred years North Shropshire has been a Tory safe seat.
— Byline TV (@BylineTV) December 15, 2021
This week, every Tory voter we spoke to said they wouldn't vote Conservative again while Boris Johnson remains in charge. pic.twitter.com/nbTiYyzsIJ
Lib Dems North Shropshire internal polling:
— Virgosam (@virgosam70) December 14, 2021
CON: 40%
LDEM: 39%
LAB: 12%
REF: 4%
GRN: 4%
DO NOT VOTE Labour or Green.
There is only one party to vote for.
VOTE LIB-DEM
A vote for Conservative, Labour or Green is a vote for Owen Paterson.
Byelection loss would be ‘absolute disaster’ for PM, say Tory MPs – A Lib Dem victory would be a political earthquake even greater than their Chesham and Amersham victory in June, and would cap a disastrous week for Johnson. https://t.co/hKCUcd9s1i
— Graham Simpson (@grahambsi) December 15, 2021
Leave voters go cold on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, study finds https://t.co/ruZDnUjopL
— The Independent (@Independent) December 16, 2021
Part 4 of the story of Christmas parties & quizes in Westminster last year. This time: a picture, a resignation, staff awards and accusations of ‘partisan trivia’. Produced by Briony Sowden. https://t.co/9h4d7fUWKn pic.twitter.com/iJ0j9Dvnmi
— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) December 15, 2021
The Tories disliked this banner so much they sent the Police to confiscate it… so please don't share it with anyone 👍 https://t.co/5p4VR1ZkNv
— Lloyd Hardy (@LloydHardy) December 15, 2021
🚨"Who exactly does the @MetPoliceUK work for ma'am? Our citizens, or Boris Johnson?" 🚨
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) December 15, 2021
(Location: New Scotland Yard. Sound on) pic.twitter.com/IB65bu3qz0
***
Jan 6th revelations heading for perfect storm
NEW: Jan. 6 committee members are increasingly pondering an explosive question: Did Donald Trump's actions — or lack thereof — as a mob stormed the Capitol amount to criminal obstruction of Congress?
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 15, 2021
w/ @nicholaswu12https://t.co/nJwwiNN4AF
"Liz Cheney went straight to the heart of the matter, it was I think a little bit surprising… She simply signaled that she expects that the Jan. 6 committee will send a criminal referral on the former president to the Justice Dept." – @JoyceWhiteVance w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/kUUKC7pZXj
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) December 15, 2021
"Donald Trump may be on the hook for criminal liability. It wasn't an accident that Liz Cheney laid out the elements of the offense of essentially not acting to save the Congress while we're performing the electoral college count," Rep. Eric Swalwell sayshttps://t.co/an1ZvRdy8u pic.twitter.com/bAGR6NMZhF
— New Day (@NewDay) December 15, 2021
A key take away from the Jan 6 Comm’s work – they aren’t treating that day as a stand-alone event. They view it as the culmination of Trump’s efforts to steal the election, including coercion in GA & the plan to replace DOJ leadership with someone who’d further the big lie.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 15, 2021
On @CNN yesterday, I said the story isn’t everyone BEGGING Trump to do something during the insurrection. The story is that Trump did NOTHING TO STOP the insurrection. And the reason Trump did nothing to stop the insurrection is because he WANTED the insurrection to happen.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 15, 2021
Sounds like someone used up their 30 day prescription of Xanax long before the 30 days were up. And now somebody is in straight up panic attack mode and cannot get a refill.
— Emerson🌹👩🏽❤️👨🏽😷💉🌊🇺🇲🏴☠️ (@EmersonRRose1) December 15, 2021
After 11 months it may no longer be politically correct to say this on the right, but Trump’s lies about election fraud were the principle cause of the capitol riot. The texts show that everyone knew it that very day. https://t.co/SOghKZmLHg
— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 15, 2021
New: Dominion and Smartmatic want to see Rupert Murdoch's emails.
— Jan Wolfe (@JanNWolfe) December 15, 2021
This is all about showing "actual malice" — proving that Fox either knew it was amplifying bogus claims, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
The latest from me and @hcoster:https://t.co/jADak6WeKO
Meanwhile…
.@SpeakerPelosi: "I'm still hopeful that [Build Back Better] will pass. I'm not going to have a postmortem on something that hasn't died. I think that we will have legislation and it will pass. I hope the sooner the better." https://t.co/yJzOQNnUzs pic.twitter.com/iUP3AsXkDy
— The Hill (@thehill) December 15, 2021
This generation of Dem leaders simply won't walk off the stage. When he was Pelosi's (current) age, Tip O'Neill had been retired for seven years. https://t.co/ng9xAZJGF5
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) December 15, 2021
No, they most certainly should not. https://t.co/UkX3QRI957
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) December 16, 2021
— Euge (@fewgene) December 15, 2021
— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) December 16, 2021
The Overnight Note 