Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Experts call to delay June 21 reopening as cases rise across England

Experts call to delay June 21 reopening as cases rise across England

BRITAIN should delay the June 21 reopening date by a few weeks in light of rising Covid-19 cases across the UK and also start vaccinating over-12s, the chair of Independent SAGE, Sir David King, has said. He warned that the latest numbers are “evidence of another wave appearing”.

“It will be wise for the government to announce right away a delay in opening, just so that we can all plan for the post-June 21 period,”  he told Sky News on Monday (7).


“I would give a few weeks' delay and see how the figures are emerging. So, I don’t know how long. As the prime minister has said, it’s data, not dates, that we should be governed by, and that’s response as well.”

Calls to delay the lockdown reopening come as the latest figures show most UK authorities have seen an uptick in week-on-week cases, with the greatest numbers coming from London, northwest England and Scotland and leading to a fear of a “third wave” in the country.

Despite the vaccination roll-out reaching more than three-quarters of all adults, Downing Street's leading scientists have warned that a third wave, triggered by the “40 per cent more transmissible” Delta variant, can cripple the NHS once again.

Similar warnings were given earlier by professor Ravi Gupta, who has advised the government's pandemic response when he told the BBC that a delay of a “few weeks rather than months” may be needed and it is necessary to modify lockdown exit plans.

King also said the inoculation drive should be extended to over-12s as soon as possible to limit the spread of the virus.

Professor Devi Sridhar, an expert in global public health at Edinburgh University, has also warned that failing to inoculate the younger age group may lead to yet more disruption to education over the autumn term.

Britain's medical regulator has approved the Pfizer-Biotech jab for over-12s last week though the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is yet to give a go-ahead to vaccinate the younger age groups.

Adults under the age of 30 will be invited to book their coronavirus vaccine appointment from this week.

Meanwhile, the UK government continues to maintain that they will follow the “data not dates" and will update on the development on June 14.

More For You

Epping protests

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration. (Photo: Getty Images)

Asylum seeker convicted of sex assaults case that led to protests

AN ETHIOPIAN asylum seeker, whose arrest in July led to protests outside a hotel near London where he and other migrants were housed, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman.

The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 20 miles (30 km) from London, triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Getty

Rayner, 45, announced she would step down as deputy prime minister, housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. (Photo: Getty Image)

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner resigns after admitting tax mistake

Highlights

  • Rayner steps down after admitting underpaying property tax
  • Resigns as deputy prime minister, housing minister and Labour deputy leader
  • Becomes eighth minister to leave Starmer’s government, and the most senior so far
  • Her departure comes as Labour trails Reform UK in opinion polls

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after admitting she had underpaid property tax on a new home. Her resignation is a fresh setback for prime minister Keir Starmer, who had initially stood by her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Migrants boat
Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK pauses refugee family reunion route amid migration reforms

Highlights:

  • Refugee family reunion scheme suspended as part of migration reforms
  • Nearly 21,000 visas issued in the past year, mainly to women and children
  • New rules to include contribution requirements and longer waiting periods
  • Government expects first migrant returns to France later this month

THE GOVERNMENT has announced it is suspending a scheme that allowed families of refugees in the UK to apply to join their relatives, as part of efforts to cut irregular migration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Angela-Rayner-Reuters

Angela Rayner arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 2, 2025. (Photo credit: Reuters)

Rayner's future uncertain as report on stamp duty case expected soon

DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner is awaiting the outcome of an investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty on a property in East Sussex, with the findings expected soon.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said he anticipated the report, led by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, would be delivered “pretty quickly.” He added: “Then, of course, I will act on whatever the report is that's put in front of me.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Nin Pandit to lead a reformed Downing Street Delivery Team.
  • Vidhya Alakeson given expanded responsibilities over policy and delivery.

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less