Late PMQs At 1500GMT, COVID Measures In Focus As Cases Top 200k/Day

The first prime minister's questions of 2022 takes place in the House of Commons at the later-than-usual time of 1500GMT (1000ET, 1600CET) today, with the announcement on 4 January that the UK gov't would not yet be implementing any further COVID restrictions likely to feature heavily.

• Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer will not participate in the session, having tested positive for COVID on the morning of 5 January. Deputy leader Angela Rayner will take his place.
• PM Boris Johnson remains under significant pressure with regards to his gov'ts policies on COVID. New cases crosses the 200k/day threshold on 4 January for the first time ever, while hospitals and front-line services warn of being overwhelmed due to staff shortages caused by self-isolation. This has led to some calls for tighter restrictions in England (the only UK nation where Johnson's gov't has full control of COVID restrictions).
• However, the medical evidence suggesting that the symptoms of the rampant Omicron variant are generally very mild, combined with a parliamentary Conservative party in a rebellious mood with little appetite for tighter controls has seen Johnson eschew any further measures for now.