Rumours abounding of an imminent Quad meeting to discuss imposing Plan B as early as tomorrow morning, meaning Working From Home and covid passports for large venues. One source tells me it's "85% likely". Let's see. One helluva dead cat.
I've put this to Downing Street, who have not denied it. No10 source simply says "no decisions have been made".
There is disquiet about how quickly this decision process is moving in Whitehall. I’m told the Covid Taskforce is yet to even submit papers to the PM and Health Sec on Plan B, which were due later in the week. A source tells me: “Boris decided to do it last night”.
That said, epidemiologists are now beginning to advocate Plan B now. Prof Neil Ferguson says Omicron likely to overtake Delta by Xmas and peak in January, and “Plan B+ would slow it down to allow more boosters”.
But Tory MPs adamantly aren’t. I also understand only 3 ministers spoke in favour of Plan B now during Cabinet yesterday. One senior Tory MP just now: “I’m not having all our lives fucked up by these fucking halfwits again just to dig themselves out of their own fucking mess”.
Senior Tory William Wragg challenges Johnson directly during PMQs over if he’s bringing in Plan B today, and says “few will be fooled by this diversionary tactic”. Johnson doesn’t deny, but says: “No decisions will be taken without consulting the Cabinet”.
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