Government plans 'could leave UK vulnerable to new Covid variants'

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( December 06, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Government accused of weakening UK’s defences against future variants and pandemics]( Exclusive: Ministers’ plans to sell off the UK’s vaccine manufacturing plant would leave Britain vulnerable to emerging Covid variants, the head of the centre behind the Oxford jab has warned. The government is considering a number of bids from the private sector for the Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation Centre (VMIC) in Harwell – a “surprising” decision that has drawn criticism from one of the leading scientists behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab. Professor Adrian Hill, director of the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, compared the sale of VMIC to “having been in a terrible war and you suddenly cut your defence budget substantially”. 2 / [Commons speaker goes to police over claims of cocaine use at Westminster]( ‘I expect to see full and effective enforcement of the law,' he says 3 / [Boris Johnson ‘planning reforms which would let ministers overrule judicial decisions’]( Reported move triggers backlash from lawyers 4 / [Storm Barra: Severe weather warnings for wind and snow as thousands remain without power]( Second named storm of the season to reach UK on Tuesday 5 / [Lewis Hamilton beats Max Verstappen to Saudi Arabian Grand Prix victory after chaotic race]( Defending champion will enter final race level on points with title rival The Big Question Is it possible to have a climate-friendly Christmas? Sustainability is influencing more and more of Britain’s consumer and lifestyle habits as more of us grow aware of the realities of climate change. Now even the excesses of Christmas have come under scrutiny. The frenzy of gift-buying and excessive food consumption and the waste generated over the festive season have serious environmental consequences. But there are steps we can all take to mitigate our carbon footprint and still enjoy Christmas. [Read the full story >]( Watch / [‘Too late’ to halt spread of Omicron with new rules, Sage scientist says]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 50% A further 86 Covid cases of the omicron variant were reported across the UK yesterday – bringing the total to 246 and representing a rise of more than 50 per cent in just one day. QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s rare to find an uninterrupted 500m-long paintable surface slap bang in the middle of a town – I literally clambered over the passenger next to me to get a closer look." – Banksy, the anonymous street artist, who has offered to raise millions of pounds to boost a bid to transform Reading prison which once held [Oscar Wilde]( into an arts centre. Other stories you might like [Aung San Suu Kyi: Ousted Myanmar leader found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison]( [Harry ‘expressed concerns’ over Saudi donor in cash for honours claims]( [White House ‘to boycott Beijing Olympics’]( 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](.