Western Morning News (Saturday)
The things they say
■ “This Christmas and the start of 2021 is going to be tough. The new variant makes everything much harder because it spreads so much faster. But we mustn’t give up now, we know that we can control this virus, we know we can get through this together, we’re going to get through it by suppressing the virus until a vaccine can make us safe”
– Health Secretary Matt Hancock, as he announced that more areas of England would be moving to Tier 4 on Boxing Day.
■ “I want to be clear today that regardless of the circumstances, I was in the wrong. There are no excuses. These rules do apply to me just as they do to everyone else and the rules really matter. I am kicking myself very hard, possibly harder than my worst critic ever could, but more importantly I’ll be making sure I don’t drop my guard again”
– Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon apologises in the Scottish Parliament after being photographed in a bar not wearing a face mask.
■ “If I leave now, maybe I’ll get back. But to be honest, I don’t think I have any chance. I have a small baby at home, it would be first Christmas together, but that’s it, I guess we’ll do it on Facebook. Everyone is hoping because there are a lot of people here with children” – Van driver Emil Liveu, who has been stuck at the Port of Dover since 10pm on Sunday, fears he will not make it home in time for Christmas.
■ “So many people have lost pantomimes recently, including the London Palladium, which was tragic that they lost theirs. They did six performances and then the Government took them off. It was disgusting, just disgraceful”
– Christopher Biggins, on the decision to halt pantomime productions in London.
■ “You hope they all go to sleep at the same time. If you mess up the routine you can pretty much be a headless chicken for the rest of the day. To have them safe and at home for Christmas is lovely”
– Summer Preston, who gave birth to triplets at 32 weeks after her 12th attempt at IVF and several miscarriages.