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What is Plan B? The new Covid restrictions Boris Johnson is reportedly set to announce
The PM is reportedly considering bringing in new rules in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant
Boris Johnson is expected to announce new Covid restrictions later today, it is being reported.
As allegations of rule-breaking Christmas parties in Downing Street run rife in the press today, despite being strenuously denied by the Prime Minister at PMQ's, a number of papers are reporting that Johnson will introduce new 'Plan B' restrictions as early as this week.
So reports the Financial Times, which writes that Boris Johnson is to "introduce new restrictions in England to curb Omicron spread."
It would mean new restrictions across the country, including a return to working from home for millions of people.
The Plan B proposal was first published by the government last autumn and hasn’t yet been implemented.
According to the Government’s website, we will only move to Plan B ‘if the data suggests further measures are necessary to protect the NHS’.
It’s made up of three points:
- Communicating clearly and urgently to the public that the level of risk has increased, and with it the need to behave more cautiously.
- Introducing mandatory vaccine-only COVID-status certification in certain settings.
- Legally mandating face coverings in certain settings.
The government is also expected to ask people to work from home again if they can, for a limited period.
Mandatory vaccine-only passports would mean that only those who are fully vaccinated would be able to visit nightclubs or indoor settings with more than 500 attendees, under Plan B.
However, senior Tory MP William Wragg said today that Plan B is a “diversionary tactic” to distract from the controversy surrounding Number 10’s rumoured Christmas party last December.
The PM faced a grilling at today’s PMQs but continued to insist that no party took place when the rest of the country was living under restrictions.
Featured Image – Unsplash / gov.uk
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New BBC TV drama starring Bel Powley and Harley Squires to be filmed in Leeds this spring
Clementine Hall
The BBC has announced a brand-new crime drama set to be filmed in Leeds and Hull.
We all love a BBC drama, and luckily for us one is about to be filmed right here in Leeds.
The new drama will be titled Shy & Lola, starring Harley Squires from The Night Manager and Bel Powley from The Diary of A Teenage Girl.
The six-part series has been described as a "dark comedy" about two women caught up in a murder in the criminal underworld.
The plot follows an unassuming pair in a small coastal town in northern England where the pair both realise they have a hidden talent for crime.
The series synopsis states: "As they build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, opposing futures beckon – using their earnings to fund a fresh start, or becoming the new bosses in town."
The show is based on a popular French TV series and is written by Amanda Coe, an acclaimed English screenwriter and novelist.
Amanda Coe spoke about the announcement: "With such a rich and spiky central relationship at its core, Shy & Lola is a dream of a show to write, full of fun, action and emotion. I can't wait to see our hugely exciting cast and director bring it to life."
Rachelle Constant, executive Producer for Clerkenwell Films, said: "Amanda has written a brilliantly bold series centred on a dynamic female duo, which blends dark comedy with propulsive storytelling.We’re thrilled to have Hayley and Bel as our leads, alongside an exceptional cast and crew."
The new series will begin filming in Leeds and Hull this spring and will air on BBC One and iPlayer and we'll absolutely be tuning in.
Read more: Yorkshire actor Robert Aramayo scoops BAFTA alongside other ‘surprise’ northern winners
Featured image - BBC
News
Turnstile to play their only UK headline show this year at Halifax Piece Hall
Clementine Hall
Turnstile will headline the Halifax Piece Hall this summer, their only UK headline show.
The Grammy-winning hardcore group have just announced a very special show at historic venue the Halifax Piece Hall.
As part of the venue's huge summer season, Turnstile will take to the stage on Wednesday 26 August marking a whopping 41 shows at the Piece Hall's calendar so far.
The group pulled huge crowds at Glastonbury festival last year and scooped up two Grammy Awards earlier this month, using their platform to thank fans who "swung in the dark" with them.
Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, says: “2026 will see Turnstile playing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and then here in Halifax at UK’s most iconic heritage venue.”
“We always aim to deliver for the full spectrum of music lovers in Calderdale and knowing how passionate our rock and metal community is, this gig will be off the scale – truly unmissable!”
Alongside Turnstile, Halifax Piece Hall will welcome the likes of Hollywood Vampires, Paul Weller, Bowling For Soup, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Empire of the Sun, Sex Pistols, Mcfly, CMAT and Jimmy Eat World this summer. What a season it's going to be.
Baltimore’s hardcore heroes will head to West Yorkshire to play TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Wednesday August 26.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 27 February at 10am, and you can get your tickets here.
Find out more about what's going on at the Halifax Piece Hall this summer here.
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