• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Sunak wants to end lockdown, and fears scientists are ‘moving the goalposts’

Sunak has apparently told allies that Britain is approaching a “fat lady sings moment” - where lockdown should be lifted, never to return - despite the country still recording close to 20,000 new Covid-19 infections every day.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2021-02-04 10:07
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Rishi Sunak is pushing for coronavirus restrictions to be permanently dropped amid fears scientists are “moving the goalposts” on ending lockdown, reports suggest.

The Chancellor is worried that the original goal of lockdown – to protect the NHS and save lives – has been replaced by a focus on getting case numbers down, potentially delaying the lifting of restrictions, according to The Telegraph. 

Sunak has apparently told allies that Britain is approaching a “fat lady sings moment” – where lockdown should be lifted, never to return – despite the country still recording close to 20,000 new Covid-19 infections every day.

At a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday night, Professor Chris Witty – the Chief Medical Officer for England – confirmed for the first time that the UK was past the peak of the current wave of the pandemic.

But, he warned, lockdown measures can not yet be eased – much to the chagrin of Tory MPs who are keen to see the economy reopened as soon as possible. 

Prof Whitty suggested that, while the UK’s vaccination programme could cause deaths to plummet in the coming weeks, restrictions are likely to remain in place until the significant pressure on the NHS has eased.

He cautioned that the NHS would “get back into trouble extraordinary fast” if lockdown was eased – and hitting the 15 February target to vaccinate the most vulnerable people would stop only a “rather smaller proportion of the pressure on the NHS”.

RelatedPosts

Boris reminded of work from home comments as he grafts from Greece

Son of Tory donor who hosted Boris Johnson’s wedding party handed lucrative government contract

Liz Truss blasts Sinn Féin for ‘driving a wedge’ between Northern Ireland and UK

Right-wing dating app to be launched next month in US

But an ally of Sunak told the Telegraph:  “Rishi remains where he has been throughout the pandemic – he is pro-opening as quickly and as safely as possible.

“This needs to be the last time we do this. This is the fat lady sings moment – we can’t lock down again.

“Rishi is concerned that the scientists have been moving the goalposts in recent weeks. It’s no longer just about hospitalisations and protecting the NHS, but cases and case numbers.

“Now the target seems to be that we need to keep cases down overall, which wasn’t the original aim of the lockdown. Over the last few weeks the goal posts seem to have shifted with the new variants. The talk has switched to becoming Covid-free.”

Despite close to 7,500 people have died from Covid-19 in the past week alone, Tory MPs are increasing the pressure on Johnson to reopen schools. 

The party’s most senior backbencher, Sir Graham Brady, said the good vaccine news undermined the “logic” of the prime minster’s decision to keep schools shut until 8 March.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith added: “We have to be careful we don’t hand over the Government to the scientists.

“When we say we’re following the science, sometimes it has been a case of following the scientists.

“As the vaccine rollout continues apace and we have now learnt that we are unlikely to transmit it, we need to go back to normal.”

The prime minister, however, seems unfazed by his party’s lobbying, saying at Wednesday’s press conference: “We don’t want to be forced into reverse. And so we think this is the prudent and cautious approach.” 

Related: Large chunks of White Cliffs of Dover collapse into the sea

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Pre-prepared roast potatoes and frozen Yorkshire puddings on the cheat sheet this Christmas

Video shows moment Boris Johnson steps off plane in Newcastle on day coronavirus was confirmed in city

Professor’s blistering thread slamming Sunak’s spring statement goes viral

NBA London Match Report: New York Knicks – Washington Wizards

Best types of wallets for every-day carry

Minus The Bear Announce June EU/UK Tour

Decision Time at Chelsea

‘Polarising’ political events could lead to ‘summer of significant difficulty and disorder’

Britain’s first Divorce Hotel opens in Yorkshire

Conservative Party slapped with paltry £70k fine over election expenses abuse

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.