Robert Jenrick says hugging family at Christmas is a ‘personal decision’

Robert Jenrick says it is a ‘personal decision’ whether to hug family at Christmas despite Chris Whitty grimly warning people must not do so ‘if you want them to survive’

  • Robert Jenrick said it is a personal choice if people hug relatives at Christmas
  • Prof Chris Whitty said last night people should not ‘if you want them to survive’
  • Government is loosening restrictions for five days over the Christmas period 

A Cabinet minister today insisted it is ‘personal choice’ whether to hug family at Christmas – despite Chris Whitty warning people must not do so ‘if you want them to survive’.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick dodged giving direct advice as he was grilled about the bleak comments by the chief medical officer.

The government has set out plans for special ‘bubbles’ over the festive season that will allow up to three households to mix freely in England between December 23 and 27.

But at a No10 press conference last night Prof Whitty and science chief Patrick Vallance appealed for people to be very careful how they use the loosening. 

Chris Whitty

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick (left) dodged giving direct advice as he was grilled about the bleak comments by chief medical officer Chris Whitty (right)

The Christmas tree was put in place by the famous black door in Downing Street today

The Christmas tree was put in place by the famous black door in Downing Street today

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Jenrick said families will have to decide whether they waive social distancing for the period. 

‘It is very hard not to come together with your kids and grandparents and not want to have a loving family Christmas. That is a matter of a personal decision for individual families,’ he said.

‘I suspect some families will conclude they want to do things differently this year than they have in the past.’

The PM’s spokesman dodged saying whether Mr Johnson will be hugging his own relatives at Christmas. 

‘The PM has said on multiple occasions that Christmas is going to be different this year and we all have to be careful, particularly around elderly relatives,’ the spokesman said.

‘I’m not aware of the PM’s plans for Christmas but you’ve seen what the Prime Minister said on this earlier this week.

‘We’ve always said that we wanted to allow families to meet up over Christmas but it remains important for people to be careful.’

At the Downing Street briefing last night, Prof Whitty said: ‘Would I want someone to see their family? Of course, that’s what Christmas is all about.

‘But would I encourage someone to hug and kiss their relatives? No I would not. It’s not against the law, and that’s the whole point – you can do it within the rules that are there but it does not make sense because you could be carrying the virus.

‘And if you’ve got an elderly relative that would not be the thing you want to do in a period where we’re running up to a point where we actually might be able to older people.

‘So I think people just have to have sense and I think this is very much what I think people will do.

‘The fact that you can do something, this is true across so many other areas of life, doesn’t mean you should.’

The PM's spokesman dodged saying whether Boris Johnson (pictured on a visit to Porton Down today) will be hugging his own relatives at Christmas

The PM’s spokesman dodged saying whether Boris Johnson (pictured on a visit to Porton Down today) will be hugging his own relatives at Christmas

Sir Patrick added: ‘To keep numbers down don’t do things that are unnecessary this Christmas, try to make sure you avoid behaviours that would spread the disease.

‘Make sure that if you’re in a house with other households that you’ve got it well ventilated and you take the precautions.

‘Keep distance where you can, it’s the same basic rules we need to apply and I think it’s difficult.

‘It’s not going to be a normal Christmas, but if you want to make those connections with family it has to be done in a way in which you try to make sure you don’t increase the risk of, I think Chris said the risk of hugging elderly relatives is not something to go out and do.’

Prof Whitty interjected grimly: ‘If you want them to survive to be hugged again.’    

Leave a Comment