Day: 11 December 2021

A summary of all the most interesting stories that have appeared about politicians’ efforts to control the virus — and other acts of hubris and folly – not just in Britain, but around the world.

The Daily Sceptic's in-house doctor discusses what we know so far about the Omicron Covid variant and sees little evidence of increased pressure on the NHS to date.

Protesters gathered in London earlier today to demonstrate against plans for a COVID-19 pass as part of the Government's 'Plan B' restrictions.

As we've come to expect from LSHTM and epidemiology in general, their latest model calling for stringent restrictions to save the NHS is un-scientific and contains severe problems making its predictions worthless.

Government sources have unveiled that Treasury staff held a party last year on November 25th to celebrate Rishi Sunak's spending review, even though lockdown restrictions were in place at the time.

New guidance from the Scottish Government says that entire classes will have to self-isolate if anyone tests positive for the Omicron variant, which could lead to another cancellation of summer exams.

The Spectator has published a full list of those Conservative MPs who've pledged to vote against the 'Plan B' measures announced earlier this week. There are currently 60, but the number is growing by the day. If the Government is going to get the measures through the House of Commons, it will need Labour votes. Here is an extract: When the Health Secretary Sajid Javid introduced the measures in the Commons this week, he was greeted with jeers and calls for him to "resign" from his own party members. There is now a growing backbench rebellion against the Government’s proposals, with several MPs publicly denouncing the winter restrictions, which they feel are a step too far in a society protected by what Boris Johnson once called the "huge wall of immunity" from vaccines. The full list is below. Steve BakerBen BradleyBrendan Clarke-SmithGraham BradyPhilip DaviesRichard DraxSimon JuppStephen McPartlandJohn RedwoodGreg SmithDehenna DavisonMarcus FyshGary SambrookPauline LathamWilliam WraggGeoffrey Clifton-BrownIain Duncan SmithChristopher ChopeCraig TraceyRobert SymsAnthony MangnallGreg ClarkEsther McVeyLiam FoxDavid DavisMark JenkinsonAlicia KearnsMark HarperDarren HenrySteve BrineCraig MackinlaySimon FellAndrew BowieDavid WarburtonSiobhan BaillieDavid JonesTom RandallBen SpencerAndrew RosindellCharles WalkerDouglas RossKarl McCartney Anne Marie MorrisJohnny MercerTom TugendhatRichard FullerGiles WatlingDesmond SwayneAndrew BridgenAndrew LewerChristian WakefordAdam AfriyieJulian SturdyPeter BoneChris GraylingChris GreenTim LoughtonTracey CrouchMiriam CatesJackie Doyle-Price If you would like to write to any of these MPs to express your support for their stand, ...

The U.K. Health Security Agency has told the Government that “stringent national measures” should be introduced this month to fight the spread of the Omicron variant in order to protect the NHS.

Contrary to the claims made by Dr Rachel Clarke and Professor Stephen Powis last month, new data out this week shows that the majority of Covid ICU admissions in October and November were among the vaccinated.