An early morning run on a cold, crisp morning began the day. Into the Commons and a meeting with my team, before heading to CR11 for a meeting of the CRG. The topic up for discussion was the much-regretted reaction of the Government to re-introduce restrictions following the emergence of a new Covid variant called Omicron. It has an Orwellian ring to it. Anyway, the Government wanted to make the wearing of masks mandatory in shops and on public transport, and to insist that you must isolate for 10 days if you've been in contact with someone who has Omicron, although how they will know this for sure is anyone's guess. In the legislation, the word 'suspected' is used, raising fears of another 'ping-demic' which crippled the nation only a short time ago. We do not seem to have learnt much. I could not go along with either of these laws and voted against both. The mask issue is very divisive and being weaponised, especially by those using it for political gain. Experts on this topic are divided and the evidence for them is inconclusive. I would have thought that their application should be grounded in common sense. For example, in hospital or GP surgeries. For the rest of us, we must get on with our lives and learn to live with this disease. Variants will come and go in the years ahead and vaccines will be needed, as they are now, to combat them. Further on this subject, the PM said that covid booster jabs would be offered to everyone in England who was eligible by the end of January. Mr Johnson added the government would be "throwing everything" at the campaign so everyone could get a third jab. People would be invited to book a booster three months after their second vaccine dose. The rollout was expanded in response to the emerging Omicron variant, which could be more infectious than Delta. A total of 22 cases of the new variant have so far been confirmed in the UK - 13 in England and nine cases in Scotland linked to a single event. The PM said booster doses would be given at 1,500 community pharmacy sites and extra hospital hubs in England. He added 400 military personnel would be on hand to help the NHS alongside "the fantastic jabs army of volunteers". At 1345, I joined our Defence Committee for another session, this time taking oral evidence from Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the National Security Adviser, which started at 1430 and can be seen on Parliament TV. Sir Stephen answered questions on a range of issues, including Afghanistan, the reduction of the army and the Russian and Chinese threat. At 1630, I joined a weekly meeting of a small team of colleagues, which is held in confidence. I had to leave slightly early to make my way to No 10, where the 2010 intake had been asked for a drink with the PM. Bearing in mind all that the PM is dealing with, it was a kind and generous gesture on his part and very enjoyable. While all this was going on, the SNP had a nasty Opposition Day debate on the PM himself. They are a mean-spirited bunch and I do not believe for one minute they really represent the true mood of most of the Scots. Their suicidal drive for independence is staggering and one day the people of Scotland will see this for what it is - madness. After Storm Arwen, thousands of people in the north of England were bracing themselves for a fifth night without power. Supplier Northern Powergrid said it had reconnected 90 per cent of customers but that 20,000 households were still cut off. In the US, paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein's long-time pilot testified at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell that he flew VIPs to luxury locations worldwide.