FURY AT ANOTHER U-TURN
MILLIONS of families were reeling last night as Boris Johnson snatched back the Christmas he promised just days ago.
With a new strain of the virus on the rampage, the PM plunged 17.7 million into a rigid new Tier 4.
It means no households can mix even on Christmas Day – so lone grannies face being home alone.
The rest of England had the fiveday relaxation of rules cut to one – Christmas Day itself. Mr Johnson said: “It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned.”
The hammer blow came as: Scientists warned the new strain spreads 70 per cent quicker – and the UK death roll rose 534 to 67,075.
Retail and hospitality industries fear they will take a £14billion hit.
All Tier 4 non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail bars, gyms and pools must close from today. But religious services are allowed.
Christmas holiday flights abroad are banned in Tier 4 and advised against everywhere else.
The mother of all U-turns went down badly. While accepting the science, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Millions will be heartbroken by having Christmas plans ripped up. People want clear decisive leadership and all we get is confusion and indecision.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan added: “Our city faces its toughest Christmas since the war.”
Rebel Tories against restrictions demanded the recall of Parliament.
Tier 4 now embraces all 32 boroughs in London and most of the South East and East of England until at least December 30. Mr Johnson blamed his decision on Covid mutant VUI202012/01.
It is behind 61 per cent of f infections in the capital, nearly half of those in the East and 43 per cent in the South East.
Although the new strain was first identified in November, scientists have only realised how virulent it is over the last four days. There is no evidence it is any more lethal or that vaccines will be less effective.
NERVTAG, the Government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Threats Advisory Group, met on Friday night. They found the new variant can increase R by 0.4 or more, and alerted the Cabinet’s emergency committee yesterday morning. The PM agreed new restrictions at a Cabinet meeting – then called a news conference.
He said: “When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence.”
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance added: “It’s a horrible moment. But we know what needs to happen to slow the virus.” Ordinary families familie were shaken. Em Byalin, 42, from Hebden Bridge, Yorks, is unable to see her parents or her sister – who has cancer.
They were taking precautions but a meeting of any sort is now scuppered. Em sad: “We were being sensible. My sister is devastated.”
Charlotte Bordewey, 31, cannot show off her new baby to family in Surrey. She said: “I’m gutted.”
Three million people in Wales have also gone into Tier 4.
Scotland banned travel from England and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the country would go into lockdown on Boxing Day.