You can add to that the proposal that the 'Winter Plan' now looks like it will be coming to end at the start of February rather than end of March, at which point the MPs will be able to vote on something to replace it.

Who cares if we have a pandemic to control? Let's keep promising to end our plans for no better reason than keeping Tory MPs on side. (The bills are likely to pass anyway with Labour support, but that's embarrassing for Johnson.)

If you recall, the only reason the lockdown is ending on 2nd December was because Johnson had to promise it would end then to placate the backbenchers. It was obvious something would have to replace it, but that's a problem for another day: concentrate on getting the lockdown vote through.

This is exactly the same strategy: promise it is ending but don't give a thought to what comes after.