Friday morning UK news briefing: Hopes high for New Year's Eve
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
As families gather for Christmas, there is one present that many people will not want this year: a package of Covid restrictions from Boris Johnson.
It has already been confirmed that no announcement of new regulations will be made this week. And, now, some further good news. According to government sources, New Year's Eve restrictions are looking increasingly unlikely.
Officials are buoyed by a report confirming that omicron is likely to be a far milder variant, with the UK Health Security Agency analysis finding that the risk of hospitalisation was up to 70 per cent less.
As the Prime Minister pushes the booster rollout as the best method to avoid further measures, he will today use his Christmas message to urge people to get the Covid jab, declaring it a "wonderful" festive gift that people can give to their family and the nation.
A government source told Deputy Political Editor Lucy Fisher about the "working assumption" among key Whitehall figures.
Meanwhile, as Sir Patrick Vallance defends criticism of Sage's omicron modelling, official figures show that up to one in three Covid patients may have caught the illness in hospital - amid warnings over any use of data to justify new lockdown restrictions.
At the peak this week, 31 per cent of Covid patients included in the NHS' daily admission figures for London had already been in the hospital for more than a week before testing positive, suggesting transmission occurred on the ward. Special Correspondent Hayley Dixon has our full report.
In other developments:
fourth Covid vaccines are likely after warnings of waning immunity;
the UK overtook Israel in the race to become the most-boosted;
but testing is in chaos after pharmacies ran out of lateral flow kits.
Queen's blessing to 'poignant' service honouring Duke
The Queen has given her blessing to a service of thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, ahead of a "particularly personal" Christmas message devoted to his memory. The Duke will be celebrated during a service at Westminster Abbey in the spring. It is intended to help make up for the circumstances of the Duke's funeral, where the Queen was alone in mourning. As Royal Correspondent Hannah Furness reports, a photograph of the Queen at the recording of the televised speech shows her wearing the same brooch she wore for her honeymoon photoshoot with Prince Philip. After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their Christmas card, Guy Kelly picks out seven thoughts that shoot through your mind - and Bethan Holt analyses their fashion choices.
It's the night before Christmas - time to let hope in
When it comes to the pandemic, we are at the fourth stage of grief - depression: a depression exacerbated and sharpened in the past month by the emergence of omicron and the shadow it cast once again over Christmas. But by the same token, as a less scientific adage goes, the darkest hour is just before the dawn. The light is getting brighter and green shoots of optimism are emerging, says Boris Starling in this inspiring Christmas Eve essay on how far we have come - and we will overcome. And, in the spirit of optimism, TV chef Prue Leith writes that - after a difficult year - there are still so many things to be grateful for.
Daily dose of Matt
View Matt's latest cartoon, which finds humour in history today as he looks back at the First World War football truce.
Also in the news: Today's other headlines
NHS overhaul | A senior banker is to become the new chairman of NHS England, after ministers sought an "outsider's eye" to make the health service accountable for its additional funding. Richard Meddings, a non-executive director at the Treasury and Credit Suisse and ex-TSB Bank chairman, is the Government's preferred candidate for the role.
EU | Hopes 'hangover' will be cured with pints of sparkling wine
Death | Prisoner kicked officer so hard he killed her, court hears
Pictured | Prehistoric sea monster skull unearthed in US desert
Festive survey | White, straight, male… on your sleigh, Santa
Around the world: Vulture back as lord of Europe skies
They were known as "lamb killers" and "bone crunchers" - and it was even rumoured that they were able to snatch small children. But after centuries of intense persecution, the bearded vulture, one of the world's most imposing birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 9ft, is staging a comeback across its former range in Europe. Nick Squires explains how it has been brought back from the brink with the help of a captive breeding programme, which has had one of its most successful years.
Comment and analysis
Douglas Murray | Covid obsession has starved lives of meaning
Alan Cochrane | Cowboy Sturgeon sticks to her guns on rules
Henry Hill | On omicron, Drakeford is a nationalist ideologue
Kate Musgrave | We should start charging for visits to GPs
Reader letters | We shall be sitting down to Christmas dinner
Editor's choice
Determined to keep singing | The choirs refusing to let our carol services fall silent
Tried and tested | The best cava, champagne and sparkling wines to try this Christmas
Revealed, by postcode | The top 10 most in-demand commuter towns of 2021
Sport briefing: AP McCoy saves jockey
Sir Anthony McCoy helped save the life of a jockey who suffered a heavy fall. The champion jockey was overseeing training at Lambourn, Berkshire, when James Bowen was knocked out after his horse fell. McCoy was first on the scene to tend to Bowen before he was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon. In cricket, James Anderson argues that it should not just be bowlers blamed for the Ashes failings.
Business briefing: Energy bills rescue plan
Kwasi Kwarteng is to draw up a rescue package to protect households from surging energy prices as demands grow for a VAT cut to bills. The Business Secretary wants to protect consumers from a predicted jump in the energy price cap, which will send annual power bills up to £2,000 or more from April. Meanwhile, the Treasury has admitted that it missed £18billion of borrowing from a key table in its Budget document.
Tonight's dinner
Christmas Eve risotto, with mussels and saffron | This dish by Eleanor Steafel can be made for one - or scaled up for 10, depending on how many people you are expecting. View the recipe. For more, try our Cookbook newsletter.
Your great escape in books
Cook up a storm | Christmas is a time when many of us like to get busy eating - and thinking about - food. These new releases are so much more than cookbooks: expect glimpses of the writers' home lives as well as their precious family recipes. See our choice of five books that are guaranteed to delight foodies and give new year kitchen inspiration.
And finally... for this morning's downtime
'Yarnbombing' | 'Craftivists' are adorning public property across Britain with their knitted handiwork - all in the name of Christmas joy and charity. Eleanor Steafel takes a look at some of the best efforts as she unpicks the mystery behind the craze.
If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.
