Christmas chaos as No10 says families CAN gather this year

Christmas chaos as No10 says families CAN gather this year but minister warns it won’t be ‘normal’ – and Labour claims the only way of saving the festive season is a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown NOW

  • Downing Street insisted the PM wants families to be able to gather at Christmas 
  • Treasury minister warned that the festive season will not be ‘normal’ this year
  • Labour frontbencher says ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown only way to save Christmas

The prospects for a family Christmas descended further into confusion today as Downing Street insisted families should be able to gather – but a minister warned it will not be ‘normal’.

The mixed messages came as politicians desperately try to get a grip on a surge in coronavirus cases – with lockdowns tightening in many areas.

There are tough restrictions on people meeting indoors across much of the UK, but asked whether families should abandon hope of meeting up, a No10 spokesman said: ‘The PM has been clear previously that he is hopeful that in many ways we could be able to get some aspects of our lives back to normal by Christmas.

‘As I say, we’ve been clear about the ambition to ensure that people may celebrate Christmas as a family this year.’

The comments contrasted with the stance taken by Treasury Chief Secretary Steve Barclay in a round of interviews this morning.

he prospects for a family Christmas have descended further into confusion as a spokesman for the PM (pictured yesterday) insisted families should be able to gather

The tree outside the famous black door in Downing Street in a staple of the Christmas season

The tree outside the famous black door in Downing Street in a staple of the Christmas season

He said:  ‘I think few people expect it to be exactly as it would normally because we will be living with this virus for some time.

‘And the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser have been very clear on that.

‘But, your point really was about the ability of families to spend Christmas together – that is something we all hope to be in a position to do.’

Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said the only way to save the festive season was to impose a ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown now – something Labour has been demanding.

She told BBC Breakfast: ‘The tier system so far has not worked to reduce infections.

‘What we are looking at unfortunately – given the Government doesn’t seem to be willing to shift on this when half-term holidays are coming up – what we are looking up to Christmas is an increasingly difficult situation in lots of parts of the country. 

 Greater Manchester moved into the highest alert level, Tier 3, this morning, and Wales is introducing its two-week ‘firebreak’ lockdown at 6pm.

Coventry, Stoke and Slough will enter Tier 2 tomorrow, while talks between Westminster and civic leaders in Nottingham over possible Tier 3 restrictions were continuing on Friday.

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon was left scrambling to quell an outcry after her national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said families should prepare to see loved ones over Zoom at Christmas because of coronavirus.

Treasury Chief Secretary Steve Barclay warned in a round of interviews this morning that Christmas will not be 'normal'

Treasury Chief Secretary Steve Barclay warned in a round of interviews this morning that Christmas will not be ‘normal’

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon was left scrambling to quell an outcry after her national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said families should prepare to see loved ones over Zoom at Christmas because of coronavirus

Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon was left scrambling to quell an outcry after her national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch said families should prepare to see loved ones over Zoom at Christmas because of coronavirus 

Prof Leitch told BBC Scotland that while there may be some ‘normality’ over Christmas, ‘we’re not going to have large family groupings with multiple families around, that is fiction for this year’.

After a question about Santas having to use Zoom in their grottos across the country, she turned to the camera and said: ‘On Santa, if there are any kids watching: Santa will not be prevented from delivering your presents on Christmas Eve, Santa is a key worker and he has got lots of magic powers that make him safe to do that. 

‘If he is having to do Grotto appearances by Zoom, that is to keep you safe, it is not because he is at any risk. Santa will be delivering presents across the world as normal.’ 

She added: ‘Since I’m spending so much time responding to Jason’s comments today, I should make him dress up as the Grinch for Halloween and do a briefing to cheer everybody up.’