Boris Johnson is set to square off against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at the PMQs on Wednesday, December 8, as Omicron cases soar across the country, raising many concerns regarding the Covid plan B.
In addition to questions about the government's alternative plan to combat rising cases, the prime minister is also likely to face tough questions about the leaked video of senior No 10 officials joking about a reported Christmas Party, which is alleged to have took place last year when strict Covid restrictions were in place.
In the video, leaked by ITV News on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, Johnson’s then-spokesperson Allegra Stratton can be seen answering practice questions at the podium of the No 9 Downing Street press room.
According to ITV, the clip came from a rehearsal carried out on 22 December, just three days after one of the Christmas gatherings is alleged to have been held.
Ed Oldfield, a No 10 adviser, is heard asking: "I’ve just seen reports on Twitter that there was a Downing Street Christmas party on Friday night, do you recognise those reports?”
Stratton and several other staff in the room are seen answering the question with joking answers including: "It wasn’t a party, it was cheese and wine," and "This fictional party was a business meeting, and it was not socially distanced."
What time is PMQs today?
The PMQs take place every Wednesday in the House of Commons from 12pm. It will run for half an hour, until the end of Question Time, ending at 12.30pm.
Prime Minister's Questions sessions typically start with a routine question from an MP about the Prime Minister's engagements. This is known as an 'open question,' after which the MP can ask a supplementary question on any subject.
Usually MPs raise particular issues of current political significance, following which the Leader of the Opposition will ask a total of six questions about the same topic or something different.
Where can I watch Prime Ministers Questions live?
The PMQs will be broadcast live on the UK Parliament YouTube channel from 12pm. You can also watch it on TV via BBC News and Sky News or access it online through BBC iPlayer here and the Sky News live YouTube stream.
The PMQs today will be particularly crucial as no government ministers have been made available to broadcasters to defend Downing Street’s record on Wednesday morning after the video footage was leaked.
We can expect to hear more about the leaked Christmas party video and the alleged Downing Street Christmas party which has caused widespread anger as well as possibly about the government's Covid plans.
