UK Covid live: Johnson does not deny Christmas party reports; Labour says ignoring Sage travel advice ‘irresponsible’

Ian Byrne (Lab) asks about Hillsborough. Will the PM agree to ensure the tragedy is included in the national curriculum?

Johnson says Byrne makes a powerful point. The government is committed to continuing engagement with the bereaved, he says. And he wants to ensure the lessons are not forgotten. He will ensure Byrne has a meeting with ministers so this is taken forward.

Imran Hussain (Lab) says all people from BAME backgrounds are concerned that the government is coming for them, because the borders bill will make deportations easier.

Johnson says that is shameful. He says Hussain should look at the make-up of the government front bench. He says the bill does not do what Hussain claims. Labour should support border controls, he says.

Tom Randall (Con) asks if the government will help places like Gedling apply for money from the levelling up fund.

Johnson says there will be another round of bidding next year. The government wants to help places like Gedling.

Jessica Morden (Lab) says Wales has been left out for rail investment. Why should people trust the government to deliver on its promises?

Johnson says Morden has failed to look at the plans in the union connectivity review.

Christine Jardine (Lib Dem) asks the PM to support her clean air proposals.

Johnson says the government is promoting electric cars, and he says its clean air strategy has been praised worldwide.

David Jones (Con) asks if the PM is committed to ensuring Gibraltar stays British, and to keeping the European court of justice out of it.

Johnson says he is committed to keeping it British, and he sees no role for the ECJ there.

Colleen Fletcher (Lab) says cuts have left West Midlands police with real problems. They say they do not have the officers to investigate every crime.

Johnson says the government is increasing the number of police officers. He promised an extra 20,000, and an extra 11,000 have already been recruited. He says they are more diverse too.

Emma Hardy (Lab) asks why mesh-damaged women are not getting proper compensation. It is impossible to know the pain they are going through.

Johnson says the Cumberlege report has been published. If there is more to do, he will look at it.

Damian Collins (Con) asks if the PM agrees it is wrong that Facebook allows people smugglers to use its site.

Johnson agrees. The online harms bill will allow that material to be taken down.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says farmers are on the brink. They are about to see payments cut by 5% at least. The PM promised a new support system for farmers. But in the meantime farmers will go bankrupt. Will the PM stop cutting the old payments until the new system is in place?

Johnson says he met representatives of the food and farming industry last night. He says every embassy now has an official backing food exports.

Ian Blackford (SNP) says it is regrettable that MPs are having to talk again about the PM’s misconduct. Last Christmas the PM hosted a party that broke lockdown rules. He says he spoke to the Mirror newspaper, they are confirming their report [er – they would, they would not have published it otherwise], and they have legal advice saying the law may have been broken. It is one rule for him, one rule for everyone else.

Johnson says Blackford should have mentioned Storm Arwen.

Blackford says he did. He says Sage advice to PM called for tougher travel rules. That is what Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, advised too. Will the PM take this advice?

Johnson says Blackford is “simply wrong” in what he has said about the steps taken by the government. He says this government was the first internationally to respond to Omicron. He says it put countries on the red list. He says the measures being taken are balanced and proporotionate.

Andrew Rosindell (Con) says the government cannot deal with illegal migrants while still constrained by the Human Rights Act and the European convention on human rights.

Johnson says the government is reviewing the human rights system. He says Labour should back the nationality and borders bill.

Starmer says the new hospitals are just the latest example of Johnson not keeping a promise.

Johnson accuses Starmer of drivelling on about parties and wallpaper. He says Labour are obsessed with factional infighting. He is getting on with governing. He says the government is cutting tax for low-paid families. He ends with the usual dig at Captain Hindsight.

That is not true. The lowering of the universal credit taper will lead to poorer workers having higher take-home pay, but it is not a tax cut.

Starmer quotes from government advice saying refurbishments should be called new hospitals. Refurbishments are a good thing, but they are not new hospitals. How many are genuinely new?

Starmer seems to be referrring to this report.

Johnson says you do not build on greenfield sites.

Starmer challenges the PM to publish the report saying the building programme has been flagged as red.

Johnson says there is record investment going into the NHS.

Starmer points out that Johnson has not denied that there was a party. But he says no rules were broken. Both of those things cannot be true. Both of those things cannot be true.

He says Tory MPs are not obeying the rules. As usual, it is one rule for them, one rule for us.

He says a Treasury analysis says the PM’s plan for 40 new hospitals is unachievable. Is that right?

No, claims Johnson. He claims he is helping to build another 40 hospitals, with investment worth £36bn.

Starmer says the rules were clear. They say you could not have a work Christmas lunch or party. Why does the PM think it was OK to hold a boozy party?

Johnson says he has commented on what happened 12 months ago. He says he wants to focus on this year. He summarises the latest guidance. He says he hopes Starmer has had his booster.