Boris Johnson assures England is not being put into lockdown
December 16, 2021, 6:43 pm

Boris Johnson assures England is not being put into lockdown

Boris Johnson/Official Facebook page

The BBC reported that Boris Johnson has insisted England is not being put into lockdown by stealth, despite accusations from some of his own MPs.

The prime minister said he was not telling the public to cancel events, but urging them to exercise "caution".

It comes as chief medical officer Chris Whitty suggested people "prioritise" activities in the run-up to Christmas.

Conservative MP Steve Brine accused the government of "putting hospitality into effective lockdown".

Mr Brine said Prof Whitty's comments meant businesses were facing "complete ruin" and more government support was needed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will hold discussions with business leaders on Friday, after deciding to cut short an official trip to the US to return to the UK.

COVID-19-Face mask-The time of COVID/Pixabay

He is facing demands for increased financial support to help affected sectors cope with booking cancellations, amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

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The PM's spokesman denied Number 10 was sending out mixed messages about socialising over Christmas, adding that both the prime minister and the chief medical officer "were making the point that given the current infection rate people should be cautious and think carefully before mixing with others".

However, Labour has urged ministers to be more specific about how they want people to behave in the coming weeks.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has called for "clarity from the government" on whether football fans should still go to matches - with thousands due to attend fixtures in the coming days, despite some being postponed due to players isolating.

The party is also demanding Mr Sunak produces a plan to help sectors affected by cancelled bookings and staff shortages, in the wake of the advice to scale back socialising.

It is calling on ministers to offer firms more flexibility on paying back government loans, cuts to business rates, and an improved insurance scheme for theatres forced to cancel shows due to performer absences.

The pub industry is also calling for more support, with the British Beer & Pub Association estimating the sector is set to lose £297m in trade over the traditionally busy Christmas period.

Asked if the government was imposing a lockdown by stealth, Mr Johnson said the situation was "very different" from last year due to the existence of vaccines and testing.

"If you want to go to an event or a party... the sensible thing to do is to get a test and to make sure that you're being cautious.

"But we're not saying that we want to cancel stuff, we're not locking stuff down, and the fastest route back to normality is to get boosted."

Meanwhile, a number of Conservative MPs have questioned Prof Whitty's role in offering advice to the public.

In a tweet she later deleted, Conservative MP for Beaconsfield Joy Morrissey said: "Perhaps the unelected Covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED members of Parliament and the prime minister have decided.

"I know it's difficult to remember but that's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state."

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Labour has called the comments "unacceptable and dangerous" and urged Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to remove her from her role as his parliamentary aide unless she apologises.

Meanwhile, Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that restrictions on "higher risk settings" may be "unavoidable" amid rising Omicron cases.

Writing to Mr Johnson on Thursday, she said urgent financial help was needed to protect businesses from the "economic shock" of a surge in infections.

Ms Sturgeon has already advised people in Scotland to limit socialising to three households at a time over the festive period, but in her letter said there may be a need to "strengthen" guidance further.

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.