RAIL and education unions joined devolved leaders in demanding stronger action from Tory ministers today as further cases of Covid-19’s omicron variant were reported in England and Scotland.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told the Commons that five cases of the variant had been confirmed in England, up by two from the weekend. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier confirmed that six cases had been found in Scotland, bringing the British total to 11.

To tackle the spread, both governments announced that all people aged 18 and over are to be offered a Covid-19 booster vaccine as part of efforts to tackle the spread of the new variant.