3 choices
© Unknown
The PM is under massive pressure from gloomy Sage scientists to impose lockdown restrictions to fend off the newest variant as cases continue to soar across the UK.

The first option presented by officials involves urging the public to limit the number of people they socialise with indoors in England, reports claim.

The second option includes the above - as well as mandatory social distancing and an 8pm pub and restaurant curfew. A controversial 10pm hospitality curfew was introduced in September 2020 and was widely criticised over it's effectiveness in slowing the spread.

Option three is a full, country-wide lockdown, the Daily Telegraph reports.

But the PM's Cabinet and other angry Tory MPs are urging Mr Johnson to resist any limits to indoor socialising so the nation can enjoy Christmas and New Year's Eve as normal. They instead called on No10 to rely on Britain's stonking Covid vaccine rollout - boosted by The Sun's Jabs Army, which helped smash a record one million vaccines - to fight Omicron.
Shoppers
© AlamyOxford Street in London rammed with Christmas shoppers

It comes as the UK reported a further 82,886 new daily Covid cases on Sunday - with the number of Omicron infections hitting 12,133 in 24 hours alone.

Anxious MPs are on high-alert in case Parliament is recalled to ram through lockdown measures. Scientists from advisors Sage urged Boris Johnson to "go early" and slap curbs on indoor drinking and socialising. Health Secretary Sajid Javid also refused to rule out new restrictions before Christmas Day. Tories have warned up to 120 backbenchers could rebel and vote against further restrictions.

This would be the biggest revolt the PM has ever suffered, and leave him relying on Labour votes to get restrictions through. One minister said: "It would be a huge rebellion. If you look at the revolt on vaccine passports it came from all sides of the party."

Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak is understood to be one of at least ten cabinet ministers who are standing against another bout of lockdown rules. The Chancellor, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss all have doubts about Sage's Omicron modelling, it is understood.

Sage scientists claim that without a robust response, the Omicron variant would put 3,000 patients a day in hospital.

But Mr Sunak feel limited information could bring the accuracy of the modelling into doubt, the Times reports.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said:
"There is no need to lock down, and people need this Christmas with their families. Boris must resist - and I think he will. All the scientific models are based on supposition - not data. We must follow the data."
UK Hospitality chief Kate Nicholls urged MPs not to back more Covid restrictions before Christmas. She said:
"The costs of closing and reopening on top of losses we have already suffered in Christmas takings would be a double whammy for beleaguered businesses. Thousands of pubs and restaurants may never reopen, and it'll take months to repair consumer and business confidence."
The Sun understands chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty told ministers on Saturday that Brits have already scaled back their socialising. This was stemming infections without the need for lockdown, they were informed.

However Mr Javid yesterday refused to rule out restrictions before Christmas, telling the BBC's Andrew Marr Show:
"There are no guarantees in this pandemic. At this point we just have to keep everything under review. If you wait until data is absolutely perfect it may well be too late."
Sage expert Peter Openshaw earlier called for more restrictions amid chilling death toll warnings. He told the BBC:
"We are absolutely clear that if we are going to have an effect with restrictions you need to act early. If you delay you only cause a bigger surge in cases and more damage to prosperity, freedoms and industry."
Sage's warnings that up to 6,000 Brits a day could die without new restrictions also came under fire.

Professor of infectious diseases Graham Medley admitted Sage did not model numbers for what would happen if Omicron turns out to be less lethal than other variants. He also said they were not interested in more upbeat scenarios.

Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan backs stricter restrictions, which he says are "inevitable". But he believes the PM should wait, saying:
"Christmas is important, even for those of us that don't celebrate religiously. You get time off, you get to see your family. So I think we should be able to celebrate Christmas safely. But I think sooner rather than later we're going to have to look at social distancing, we're going to have to look at household mixing."
The Sun is urging readers to sign up to the Jabs Army campaign to make the rollout as smooth and fast as possible. A booster shot is the best protection against Omicron, with early data suggesting it pushes efficacy back up to 75 per cent.

Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive said:
"Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. It is the best defence we have against this highly transmissible new variant."