December 2021 Lockdown

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Rishi Sunak has said that in December 2021 he flew back from an overseas government trip to stop a Covid lockdown which was "hours" away from being announced. Did anyone here have any inkling this was on the cards? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62259107

Yes I remember something like that at the time. He was never much keen on the lockdowns.

I had absolutely no idea. Apparently it was hours away from being announced.

Yes. I remember many rumours about an impending Xmas lockdown last year. Short memories, some folk.

Yes I remember being almost certain that our village New Year’s Eve party wouldn’t be able to go ahead.

I just remember hearing that Omicron was mild, it was a good idea to get it for immunity, and even bringing masks back in November was overkill.

I’m not surprised, there were lots of idiots clamouring for one. In Scotland we did have a ban on mass gatherings and “advice” on not meeting as it was.

Yes, the weekend before Christmas I remember it being touch and go whether there would be restrictions for Christmas. And if not, then everyone seemed to assume they'd been introduced straight after. There was a big split in the cabinet about it - a quick Google found this article written at the time.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/20/boris-johnson-avoids-more-covid-measures-for-now-but-rules-nothing-out

Yes
I was very much on the brink and the fact it didn't happen probably saved me

I'm amazed people don't remember. I was borderline hysterical. Nearly started screaming on the Tube.

But Boris said there wouldn't be any more lockdowns. And weren't there more people in hospital with covid last week than Dec 2021?

Boris said a lot of things….

Yes, I remember it was being considered and that there was cabinet opposition. But, by that time, we had much more immunity in the population and it looked more plausible that we could get through without a lockdown.

I certainly remember all the will-they, won’t-they back and forth in the days leading up to Christmas. I didn’t know there was anything specific hours away from being announced (and tbh, not sure if I would totally believe hero Rishi swooping in to save the day’s version of that…) but it definitely felt like a serious possibility.

There were rumours about one, and speculation that Johnson wanted more restrictions but didn't attempt it because he knew the parliamentary party wouldn't have it.

Suspect Rishi is embellishing the truth a tad there though. What I can believe is that he spoke out against hospitality closures because there'd have to be financial support then and similar.

I remember that they reintroduced wfh if you can at the start of December - I think was the introduction of "plan b" for England. I definitely remember a push amongst some scientists to restrict Christmas mixing.