The Tory foreign secretary contributed to a warning sent to Putin that there will be "massive consequences" if Russia invades Ukraine.

The new alert level means the infection is “in general circulation, transmission is high and direct Covid-19 pressure on healthcare services is widespread and substantial or rising”.

“Many people would have had similar quiz nights around the country," Nadhim Zahawi said in the prime minister's defence.

“It is horrifying that Britain has let itself be instrumentalised by a foreign power to bring about travesty," finacee Stella Moris has said.

“He gives the general impression that he is a buffoon and that he is not taking things seriously; and what people think of that, I am sure, will come out in the election result," a Shropshire councillor and Tory mayor has said.

Overall, 36 universities admitted they received funding from eight oil firms, but others refused to say whether they received funding, meaning the total amount of funding could be much higher. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss reportedly have donors lined up. Other possible candidates are Michael Gove, Nadhim Zahawi, Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat and Matt Hancock.

"I guess it’s possible he didn’t know there was a Christmas party in his own house, but the guy sat next to him draped in tinsel must have been a clue", James Felton said.

New modelling suggests a median peak could see thousands of daily hospital admissions in England and the Omicron variant evading both vaccines and boosters.