Government departments and companies are cancelling Christmas parties in their droves amid the emergence of Omicron

Companies are cancelling Christmas parties in their droves amid the emergence of the new variant which is sweeping across the UK.

The Business Minister George Freeman told LBC radio that he has cancelled his party with staff this year.

Freeman added, that he does not want to be seen telling businesses what “they should or shouldn’t be doing.”

Other government departments and Google have also announced that they will be cancelling Christmas staff get togethers.

Since the health chief Dr Jenny Harries urged people not to unnecessarily socialise, Sacha Lord, the night time economy advisor for Greater Manchester has said he advice has been “catastrophic” for the sector.

“We’ve seen office parties cancelled, flights are cancelling, it’s been a huge domino effect,” he told Sky News.

“December is a time when people can have a good time – they can take up to 25% of annual turnover in December.

“Sadly, at the eleventh hour, it’s been snatched away from them.”

Advertising guru, Sir Martin Sorrell said there was not enough government guidance and there has been a “sharp series of cancellations” since Omircon hit the UK.

Sir Martin told the BBC, “The uncertainty is extreme and government policy, understandably, I mean to be a little bit sympathetic to the government, it is an extremely difficult situation.

“But we have been through this before with Delta and the previous variants, so you would have thought the government would be a little bit more prepared for what may or may not happen in terms of scenario planning.”