Omicron could be largest spike yet, warn advisers

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( December 02, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Omicron could be largest spike yet, warn government scientists as they urge 'very stringent response']( The omicron variant could cause the biggest wave of Covid cases yet in the UK if allowed to spread unchecked, leading government scientific advisers have warned. Sage advisers cautioned that a “very stringent response” from Downing Street may be needed, while scientists in the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) said a spike in cases could overwhelm the NHS. The warnings emerged as nine new cases of the more transmissible omicron variant were identified in England, bringing the total to 22. 2 / [Boris Johnson refuses to deny No 10 held Christmas party during lockdown last year]( ‘He’s taking the British public for fools,’ says Keir Starmer 3 / [Macron called Boris Johnson ‘un clown’, French press reports]( PM ‘looking for scapegoat because of failure of Brexit’, president is reported to have said 4 / [Trump appears to predict Chinese action against Taiwan after Olympics]( Twice-impeached ex-president blames his successor for Chinese aggression towards Taiwan 5 / [Maxwell accuser recalls meeting Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago]( ‘This is real. I am seeking closure. I have been running from this my entire life,’ says accuser known as ‘Jane’ on day three of trial The Big Question Why is Jacob Rees-Mogg being investigated by a standards watchdog? An investigation has been launched by the parliamentary standards commissioner into cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg over an alleged breach of the MPs’ code of conduct. The episode is the latest installment of the “Tory sleaze” saga that has seen the likes of former Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson and ex-attorney general Sir Geoffrey Cox facing tough questions about their extracurricular activities to garnish their salaries as MPs. But what precisely has the leader of the House of Commons been accused of? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [Arsenal star Gabriel fends off baseball bat-wielding mugger]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 90 A report by the Institute of Student Employers found there are now more than 90 applications for every graduate position, a 17 per cent increase on last year and the highest number since data started being collected in 1999 QUOTE OF THE DAY “The prime minister doesn’t deny there was a Downing Street Christmas party last year ... He says no rules were broken. Both of those things can’t be true. He’s taking the British public for fools.” – Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer Other stories you might like [Scientists find strange new dinosaur in Chile with a tail that looks like a battle axe]( [More snow forecast as temperatures plunge again]( [Liverpool run riot in Merseyside derby on torturous night for Everton]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.