The news comes as Boris Johnson continues to fight for his political life as fury rages over lockdown parties in Downing Street and a member of his own cabinet demands an end to the drinking culture in his Government.

The end of restrictions means mandatory mask wearing at schools, on public transport and at indoor events, controversial covid passports, and demands that people work from home will finish on January 26.

All that will remain will be a requirement to isolate for five days with a positive covid test and the need to take lateral flow tests for international travel.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid was last night said to be “sure” that the restrictions will not be needed after the January deadline.

The Sunday Express learnt that the Prime Minister had already been handed an ultimatum before Christmas by senior Conservative backbenchers that he would face a leadership vote of confidence if he tried to bring in more restrictions.

The threat came after 101 Conservative MPs opposed the current restrictions in a Commons rebellion on December 14.

Conservative MPs have made it clear to Mr Johnson that restrictions needed to end as soon as possible.

In recent days amid the revelations about parties, some have stressed that Mr Johnson’s resistance to scientists pushing for greater restrictions and “getting the policy right” was what prevented them from submitting a letter to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady calling for a vote of confidence in his leadership.

But even close allies of the Prime Minister last night warned Mr Johnson that there needed to be a change of culture.

Writing for the Sunday Express, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg urged people to stand by the Prime Minister for delivering on Brexit and getting the country through the pandemic.

But he added: “It is clear that there is a drinking culture in Downing Street that would be questionable in ordinary time let alone during a period of restriction.”

Meanwhile, former Conservative minister Tobias Ellwood said the Prime Minister must “lead or step aside”, saying: “We need leadership.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “We’ve got a Prime Minister who is absent - he is literally in hiding at the moment and unable to lead, so that’s why I’ve concluded that he has got to go.

“And of course there is a party vantage in him going, but actually it is now in the national interest that he goes, so it is very important now that the Tory party does what it needs to do and gets rid of him.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid is expected to formally announce in the coming days that he will not renew the restrictions when their sunset clause ends on January 26.

A source said he “feels confident about the decision” because of the falling number of cases and evidence that Omicron is not as dangerous as other variants.

The source added: “Sajid [Javid] is sure now that the restrictions will not go beyond the sunset clause date.”

The Health Secretary had already reduced isolation times for positive tests down to five days from 10.