Plan B: Plans being drawn up to start working from home in bid to curb Christmas Omicron surge

Plans for Brits to work from home and for offices to be closed are currently being drawn up by the Government to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.

But Cabinet ministers last night urged Boris Johnson to hold his nerve and resist tightening Covid restrictions this Christmas.

The PM yesterday told the Cabinet that the Omicron variant appears to be 'more transmissible' than previous strains and is spreading quickly across the country. Yesterday Sajid Javid also stated that the Omicorn variant is spreading ‘across multiple regions of England’.

While Downing Street had insisted that ministers had not discussed the introduction of so-called Plan B measures. These include working from home and vaccine passports, one source said Mr Johnson's 'sobering' briefing appeared to be designed to soften up ministers for the potential introduction of tougher curbs in the coming days in the run up to Christmas.

The Telegraph reported that officials working on Covid policy have carried out modelling on the economic impact of making people leave their offices.

Senior Tories last night warned the PM he would face a major backlash if he attempted to impose the new restrictions. Currently the Omicron variant is not know to have killed anyone but early data has indicated that is it more transmittable and is spreading rapidly.

These plans come as Boris Johnson is facing calls to “come clean” about an alleged Christmas party at No 10 during lockdown restrictions last year as the Government refused to send a minister to defend its position on television.

Leaked footage from No 10’s £2.6 million press briefing room emerged on Monday night which showed former press secretary Allegra Stratton laughing as she appeared to rehearse answers to questions over a lockdown-busting Christmas party.

The video, which is reported to be from December 22 last year, refers to a party on “Friday” – which would have been December 18, the same day The Daily Mirror reported there was a staff party where games were played, food and drinks were served, and revelries went on past midnight.

No 10 initially did not say the reports were inaccurate but said all rules had been followed, before later denying any party had taken place.