Boris Johnson has urged people to test
themselves before meeting relatives for
Christmas as he ruled out new Covid-
restrictions this week.
The prime minister left a big question
mark over new year celebrations as he
said he could not exclude “further
measures” next week, pledging to do
“whatever it takes to protect public
health”.
Johnson said there was not enough
evidence yet to justify restrictions but
with key data expected this week and
next, he put the country on notice for
post-Christmas restrictions if the
numbers worsen.
The decision leaves millions of fami-
lies free to travel in the coming days, and
ministers are urging people to use rapid
tests to minimise spread of the virus.
Sajid Javid, the health secretary, also
confirmed that isolation for Covid
cases will be cut from ten to seven days,
as long as people have negative lateral
flow tests on days six and seven.
The change, effective immediately,
will free thousands from Christmas
isolation and reflects growing scientific
confidence that lateral flow tests
accurately pick up the most infectious
people and are just as effective in
spotting Omicron. With fears of staff
shortages as infections rise, Javid said
the move would “reduce the disruption
from Covid-19 to people’s everyday
lives”.
In a video message last night,
Johnson advised people to “take a test
before you visit elderly or vulnerable
relatives”, stressing the need for
“everyone to exercise caution, to keep
Haya’s divorce case, condemned the
alleged blackmailers, saying he deeply
regretted “that these people have been
able to get away with this and have not
been prosecuted”.
Haya was the youngest of six wives of
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-
Maktoum, 72, one of the world’s richest
men and a member of the Queen’s
racing circle. The 47-year-old princess,
sister of King Abdullah of Jordan, fled
to London in 2019 in fear for her life
after her husband discovered her affair.
The payment covers lifetime security
and maintenance and education for
their children, Jalila, 14, and Zayed, 9.
The sheikh has to compensate hisformer wife for the loss of jewellery,
haute couture clothing and horses.
The settlement surpasses the record
£453 million that the Russian business-
man Farkhad Akhmedov, 66, was or-
dered to pay his ex-wife, Tatiana, 49,
before a £135 million deal was agreed.
In October the High Court found the
sheikh had expressly or implicitly
authorised the hacking of Haya’s phone
and that of her lawyers. Sheikh Mo-
hammed denied any knowledge of the
hacking. A Scotland Yard inquiry had
ended eight months before the hacking
finding, but police said yesterday they
would review any new information.
Sheikh divorce, pages 6-Chris Smyth Whitehall Editor
MAX MUMBY/INDIGO/GETTY IMAGESSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum with Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, who fled to London in 2019 in fear of her lifeTake test to
see family at
Christmas,
says Johnson
Threat of more Covid curbs before new year
protecting yourselves and your loved
ones, especially the vulnerable”. The
prime minister said that although the
Omicron situation was “extremely
difficult”, he did not think there was
“enough evidence to justify any tougher
measures before Christmas”. He added
that the decision was “finely balanced”,
warning: “If the situation deteriorates
we will be ready to take action if needed.”
Chris Whitty, the chief medical
officer for England, and Sir Patrick
Vallance, the chief scientific adviser,
told MPs that Omicron was spreading
in all age groups and had now outpaced
Delta across the country. They said it
was unclear when cases would peak.
They also emphasised the uncertainty
in the data and would not comment on
further action. One Tory MP said: “I
didn’t get the impression they [Whitty
and Vallance] were convinced we were
making a mistake [in not imposing
restrictions], even if they probably
thought on balance we probably are.”
The developments came as:
6 Restaurants and pubs cautiously
welcomed a £1 billion government
bailout for the hospitality industry.
6 Allies of the prime minister turned
on his “pathetic” leadership rivals.
6 Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first
minister, cancelled the country’s
Hogmanay celebrations.
A million packs of lateral flow tests
are now being sent out every day and
scientific advisers increasingly believe
that widespread use of the devices is
one of the most effective ways to
control infections.
Deliveries of tests have struggled to
keep up with demand, however, while
Continued on page 2, col 3‘Blackmail’ anger of £554m divorce judge
David Brown
Chief News CorrespondentA senior judge said yesterday it “sticks
in the throat” that security staff who
allegedly blackmailed a princess for
millions of pounds had not been
brought to justice.
A landmark ruling detailed claims
that Princess Haya bint al-Hussein,
who was married to the ruler of Dubai,
paid nearly £6.7 million to her British
bodyguard lover and other members of
her security team who threatened to
reveal their affair.
Mr Justice Moor, who awarded a
record £554 million settlement in£2.20 £1.45 to subscribers
(based on 7 Day Print Pack)The best-dressed list
Carol Midgley
Santa, I’d
like to work
at No 10
Wednesday December 22 2021 | thetimes.co.uk | No 73661 2GWho pulled it off in 2021
C
S
l
INSIDE a
TIMES
IN THE NEWS
Free-speech warning
Priti Patel will warn police to
protect freedom of speech after
judges ruled that recording
“non-crime hate incidents”
risked interfering with people’s
right to express views. Page 9Asylum costs ‘double’
The annual cost of housing
and allowances for asylum
seekers has almost doubled
since 2018 to £430 million, an
analysis by Migration Watch
UK has found. Page 4Dementia risk cut
People who avoid becoming
frail in old age by adopting
healthy habits also lower their
risk of a dementia diagnosis,
according to a study of more
than 196,000 over-60s. Page 8Cyberaid for Ukraine
The United States and Britain
have sent experts to Kiev to
counter any Russian
cyberattack on Ukraine’s
infrastructure before a
potential invasion. Page 38‘£1bn rise’ in Bulb bill
The cost to the taxpayer of
running the failed energy
supplier Bulb could spiral by
£1 billion or more as gas prices
hit record highs, according to
industry estimates. Page 43y(7HB7E2*OTSKNP( |||+!=