Parties Are On! PM All Set To Give Green Light

Boris Johnson wants to offer guidance NOT restrictions for New Year's Eve

- Macer Hall

• Expert guidance instead of restrictions

NEW Year's Eve parties are set to be given a cautious green light - with advice to observe Covid safeguards.

Boris Johnson will today study fresh scientific data before deciding whether to impose new restrictions aimed at slowing the Omicron spread.

But Whitehall insiders say he is inclining towards issuing guidance on limiting social gatherings rather than enforcing new legal restrictions.

An announcement about England could come as early as today.

A Government source said: He will have a daily update and we will then look at what is needed. The source added that the Prime Minister was “broadly” in favour of introducing new guidance rather than mandatory restrictions - as enforced in Scotland and Wales from yesterday.

But the PM will make up his mind after studying the latest evidence, it was said.

Mr Johnson will be briefed on the scientific data by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance this morning. He is expected to discuss the situation with senior ministers today, although no formal Cabinet call or meeting of his Covid operations committee has been scheduled.

Tory backbenchers yesterday stepped up their opposition to new legally enforced Covid rules after a series of scientific reports suggested Omicron is milder than earlier variants of the disease.