Newspaper headlines: 'Carry on Christmas' as PM refuses to scrap festive rules
By BBC News
Staff
- Published
"Too Late to Cancel Christmas" is the headline in the Daily Telegraph, which says Boris Johnson is determined to go ahead with an easing of Covid rules over the festive period.
It reports that the government will issue stronger guidance, including urging people to self-isolate before joining up with other households.
The Times understands there will be an advertising campaign which will discourage unnecessary visits and recommend that people think carefully before spending time with elderly relatives.
The Guardian believes Christmas plans are still "in the balance", though, as talks between the four UK nations are unresolved. Its source at Westminster says they could diverge from their common approach.
That uncertainty is reflected by the Daily Mail. "Carry on Christmas!" cheers the headline on the main edition.
But the version on sale in Scotland asks: "Is Christmas in jeopardy?" It reports that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon could opt for tighter restrictions.
According to the Sun, both Wales and Scotland favour tougher rules, but it says Boris Johnson is "fighting to save Christmas".
The Daily Express agrees that the PM is "defying intense pressure" to scrap the relaxation.
By contrast, the Daily Mirror accuses him of "dithering" about what it calls his "festive free-for-all". "All we want for Christmas is... a decision", says the headline.
The Peter Brookes cartoon in the Times encapsulates the government's dilemma about relaxing coronavirus rules at Christmas.
The prime minister is the fairy on top of a Christmas tree which is being decorated with hazard warning tape by his scientific advisers.
In the view of the paper, current government plans will cause needless deaths and they should be swiftly revised.
A Tory source tells the Daily Telegraph's Camilla Tominey that would be "almost impossible" politically.
While allowing household mixing may push up infections, the argument goes, cancelling Christmas could drive the disgruntled public to abandon the rules altogether in the New Year.
Returning to a story it first reported on Saturday, the i says repeated computer crashes and delays are frustrating GPs involved in the NHS programme to vaccinate the population against Covid-19.
The paper says some surgeries have not been given training on the IT system involved and others are still waiting for the fridges needed to store supplies of the Pfizer jab. The NHS insists there's been a good start to primary care vaccinations.
The Telegraph reports that MPs have been primed to vote for a possible Brexit trade deal at the beginning of next week.
It has been told that plans involve the Commons and the Lords being asked to sit on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday if there is a deal, with Christmas Eve still under discussion.
The Telegraph's government source describes the proposals as "entirely provisional", with suggestions that a deal is imminent being firmly quashed in London and Brussels.
According to the Financial Times the UK is drawing up plans to turn London into a rival to Singapore as a hub for shipping companies to register their vessels after the end of the Brexit transition period.
The proposals, which involve revamping the shipping tax and a lighter-touch regulation regime, are described as "blue-sky thinking" by an FT source.
Plans are said to include counting oil rigs as "ships" for tax purposes, which is not allowed under EU rules. The Department for Transport tells the paper that it doesn't comment on leaks.
Finally, the Daily Mail highlights the deal the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed with the Spotify streaming service to produce podcasts.
Harry and Meghan already have a multi-million pound agreement to make television programmes for Netflix.
The Mail speculates that their new deal - for what it calls "Radio Sussex" - is worth £18m for the couple's charity.