Only the key events are shown.
7m ago
No 10 says staff drinking at a work meeting is justified because it was after hours.
Here is the full summary of the lobby briefings.
Boris Johnson will chair a cabinet meeting at 2pm to discuss the Covid situation. See 12.33pm.
The spokesman for the PM said that No 10 staff were photographed having a drink at a work meeting when the restrictions were in place. No 10 told the Guardian that they were having a drink after meetings.
The radio show "Breakfast" is hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
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This wasn't a social occasion, it was staff having a drink.
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The deputy PM defended the new photo showing the PM and colleagues having a gathering in the No 10 garden.
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December 20, 2021.
The spokesman said the gathering took place after normal working hours, but that staff were discussing work. The spokesman said that having a drink was not against the rules and that it was after normal working hours. The spokesman said that because the family live at the Prime Minister's house, it's her garden too. He wouldn't discuss why she was in the meeting. The spokesman said that it was up to Sue Gray if she would include this in her inquiry. The spokesman wouldn't say if the PM's private secretary was photographed. There was no conflict of interest because Reynolds was not involved in the Gray inquiry. The spokesman said not every meeting involved minutes being taken.
The spokesman dodged a question about whether Johnson preferred guidance restrictions to control Covid. The spokesman said that they would take any necessary steps to protect lives and livelihoods. He said that at times both approaches had been used.
We have introduced some things in guidance and regulation in the past. We are keeping the position under review.
The spokesman said that Johnson had chaired other meetings on Covid over the weekend. He said it was appropriate for Steve Barclay, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, to chair the meeting because it focused on the devolved administrations.
The spokesman did not rule out the possibility of changing the isolation rules so that people who test positive don't have to stay isolated for a long time. The plan is being considered by ministers. The spokesman was asked if that was correct.
We will keep that on the isolation period if the latest clinical advice changes.
At 8.20am.
43m ago
50m ago
Whitty and Vallance will brief the cabinet at 2pm.
1h ago
It was updated at 7.33am.
1h ago
It was updated at 7.24am.
1h ago
Johnson calls a cabinet meeting to discuss Covid measures.
2h ago
People are waiting outside a vaccine centre.
Jane Barlow is pictured.
2h ago
Starmer accuses the PM of having a 'vacuum of leadership'.
At 7.17am, we updated.
2h ago
The resignation of Frost has weakened the UK's negotiating position with the EU.
It was updated at 6.44am.
2h ago
The PM missed the meeting on Covid.
At 7.48am, we updated.
2h ago
2h ago
Labour wants more measures for England after Christmas.
The shadow chancellor implied that Labour does not want to introduce Covid measures before Christmas.
She replied that Labour did not favour restrictions for England on Christmas Day.
I want to make sure the family Christmas is protected. I think that's what people around the country want to hear from the government, what can be done to protect that.
The latest Covid numbers are alarming and anyone who has looked at them with seriousness knows that action is no longer an option. She went on.
I would like to do what is necessary to protect the family Christmas and that means listening to the scientists about what can be done to ensure that people can meet up for that limited period of time.
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In Wales, they have a plan to close down some of the biggest venues after Christmas.
Labour is in line with what Sage is demanding in regards to further measures taking effect in England after Christmas. You can see it at 10.23am.
To make it easier for people to isolated, the government should improve sick pay, according to the author.
Rachel Reeves is a photographer.
It was updated at 6.12am.
3h ago
What is it that Sage is calling for?
The government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies is suggesting what further Covid measures the ministers should announce. The minutes of a meeting held last week are here. The minutes were released on Saturday. They say that.
Modelling indicates a peak of at least 3,000 hospital admissions per day in England without intervention beyond those measures already in place. Some scenarios have worse outcomes in the first few months of the year. If the aim is to reduce the levels of infections in the population and prevent hospitalisations, more stringent measures would need to be implemented very soon.
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The effect they will have is greater the earlier interventions. They can be kept in place for a shorter time. If measures equivalent to those in place after step 2 or step 1 of the plan in England are enacted early enough, the potential peak in hospital admissions and infections could be reduced. The timing of the measures is important. It is less likely that these interventions will prevent pressure on health and care settings if they are delayed until 2022.
A return to steps 1 or 2 from the road map would feel like a return to the lock down.
The advice from the scientists at the Sage is often used to imply that they are not telling the ministers what to do.
The minutes make it clear that there is a desire to see new measures come into force before the year 2022. Boris Johnson will face strong criticism from his party if he supports any further restrictions, but if they are delayed until after Christmas, the political backlash will be lessened.
It was updated at 5.43am.
3h ago
It was updated at 5.42am.
3h ago
He doesn't say if more cabinet ministers will resign over Covid restrictions.
David Frost gave a brief interview to a broadcast journalist this morning, following his resignation as a minister. The key points are here.
Lord Frost claimed his resignation was not about Boris Johnson. He said something.
This is not about leadership. Policy differences are the subject of this. If we can get Boris Johnson's policies right, this country will have a great future.
This was the main point that Frost wanted to make, and it was clearly intended to be supportive. Maybe he was concerned by the reports suggesting his departure was a blow to Johnson. The problem with his argument is that policy is a matter of leadership.
He said that he did not resign because of the differences. He went on to say how close he had worked with Boris Johnson.
We have never disagreed about the policy. I am pretty sure Liz Truss is going to do a great job as the foreign secretary, because we have been absolutely aligned on this.
In his resignation letter, Frost cited two policy issues that he said had prompted his resignation; Covid restrictions and the current direction of travel, in terms of taxation and regulation, generally. Many commentators thought that a dispute over the policy of the UK's departure from the EU was the main factor. The political editor of the Financial Times posted on the social networking site on Saturday night.
George WParker is on the GeorgeParker.
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Hmm. A lot of stuff was thrown out, but Johnson told Frost to get off the ECJ hill, because he wanted to occupy it. The briefings on the capitulation were done by officials.
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December 18, 2021.
The Centre for European Reform, a thinktank, has a thread on the resignation of Charles Grant.
Charles Grant is a person.
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There is a short thread on the resignation of a minister. It matters. He ran the policy with the PM. Few other officials had a lot to say. He believed that being tough gets results.
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December 18, 2021.
Grant had one conclusion.
Charles Grant is a person.
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It is clear that the political weakness of Johnson has lessened the appetite of his government for a trade war with BXL, which would probably have been the result of using the clause in the constitution. It may have been uncomfortable for Frost.
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December 18, 2021.
In his resignation letter, Frost said that his resignation was driven by his opposition to Covid restrictions.
He denied that the timing was designed to cause maximum damage. He said that he intended to quit in the new year, but that it was brought forward because of a leak.
He wouldn't say if he thought more cabinet ministers would resign. He replied that there would be more resignations.
I can not speak for anyone else. I don't support coercive policies on Covid. The prime minister has some very difficult decisions to make and I am sure he will be thinking very hard of them.
The Lord spoke to reporters this morning.
It was updated at 5.47am.
4h ago
Labour ridicules No 10 picture, saying staff meeeting and wine is proof that it wasn't work.
Good morning. The shadow chancellor was asked about the Guardian picture of No 10 staff holding a drinks party in the garden at No 10, when they were not allowed to, while she was doing a broadcast interview for Labour this morning.
No 10 said it was a work meeting. But he ridiculed the claim. She replied that the staff in the picture were at work when she was asked about it on the Today programme.
I don't know what you do at work, but I don't drink wine or eat cheese. I don't take my husband to work either.
Carrie Johnson is the PM's wife. The man went on.
That was not a picture of people at work. That was a picture of people enjoying themselves, not just with their colleagues, but also with their family as well. I think there is evidence of law breaking on multiple occasions.
The justice secretary and deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, was on the radio this morning and stuck to the line that it was a work gathering, although he also road-tested the novel argument that it could not have been a party. He told the radio station.
The rules that you were referring to were the social mixing rules. This was not a gathering of people. It's not a social gathering because you had people in work suits following meetings.
Most of the questions in the interviews were not about the picture, but about whether or not the government will announce Covid restrictions before Christmas. When Sajid Javid, the health secretary, was on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday not ruling this out, almost nothing he said took us on much. Raab told Today that he wouldn't trail things where decisions haven't been made.
By the end of the day, the position might be clearer. We will get a lobby briefing at 11.30am, but the BBC says it is possible there will be a press conference later.
It is difficult to read the comments below the line. I am more likely to find it if you include Andrew in your question. I try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line.
If you want to get my attention quickly, it is probably better to use a social media platform. I am on Andrew Sparrow.
You can email me at andrew.sparrow@theguardian.com
It was updated at 4.59am.
