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June 14, 2021, 2:01 PM | Updated: June 14, 2021, 4:59 PM
The last restrictions were due to be lifted on June 21. Image: PA
Next Monday was to be the last hurray for the last confinement.
June 21 had been dubbed Freedom Day as the final restrictions were lifted and life would return to a place close to where it was before the pandemic began 15 months ago.
Concretely, this meant lifting the latest social distancing restrictions that prevent more than six people, or two households from meeting indoors, or 30 people from meeting outdoors.
Nightclubs, theaters, concert halls and sports halls all expected the chance to reopen their doors to the public.
But before the prime ministers’ press conference at 6 p.m., a delay is inevitable.
New infections daily have risen to over 7,000, and more time is needed to ensure the majority of the population is protected with a second dose of the vaccine.
Given the pressure from his own backbenchers, the prime minister should find a compromise in the words of one of the SAGE scientists, with the marriage ceiling to be raised to 30.
Naturally, questions are already starting to arise as to who is to blame for the situation we find ourselves in.
And after last week’s revelation from Health Secretary Matt Hancock that the Delta variant accounts for over 90% of new cases, the decision not to immediately close borders with India has come under scrutiny. particular examination.
Indeed, Professor Paul Moss, who sits on Sage, told LBC this morning: “It’s quite unfortunate. Everything revolves around this new Delta (Indian) variant.
“If we hadn’t had this I’m sure we would have been … much more relaxed.”
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labor leader, went much further, calling the decision not to put India on the red list immediately as pathetic.
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“(The government) only introduced quarantine in hotels in February of this year, I think, then the inexplicable delay from I think 9 to April 23 to put India on the red list, with a lot of people. coming in, and then on top of all that and mixing up at Heathrow Airport with people on red lists and green lists.
“That’s why we’re here and the Delta variant came in because of pathetic government border control.”
The truth is, however, that whatever Boris Johnson decides tonight will go through the House of Commons when it comes to a vote.
Sir Keir met Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance earlier today to go over the numbers of where we are and projections of where we will end up if we don’t delay.
But in its previous form, Labor MPs will then be whipped for supporting the government, meaning that any backbench Tory rebellion, while potentially politically damaging, is ultimately nothing more than symbolic.
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