Boris Johnson: UK 'setting example' for green agenda
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The prime minister will face the leader of the opposition in parliament today for Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) at 12.00pm. The meeting comes as Covid cases continue to soar, with the seven-day average for cases standing at 44,145 cases per day – the highest level for almost three months.
Meanwhile, Covid deaths in the UK spiked to their highest daily level since early March, with 223 recorded on Tuesday.
The Government is now facing mounting pressure to trigger Plan B and reinstate some lockdown measures.
Today marks the first PMQs since the murder of MP Sir David Amess which has prompted many to call for a less divisive approach to politics.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “Public service in politics is a sacrifice that should be honoured and respected, even when differences of opinion run very deep indeed.”
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When will Plan B be activated?
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman previously stated that Plan B would only be activated if there was a “significant risk of the NHS being overwhelmed”.
But No 10 says that the UK is not at this point yet.
This is largely because the vaccine rollout means “the levels we are seeing in both patients admitted to hospital and deaths are far lower than what we saw in previous peaks”.
Professor Neil Ferguson, a leading member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said yesterday that he thinks Plan B could be implemented in England this winter.
However, he added that he believed a return to the type of lockdown seen back in January is unlikely.
‘Winter crisis’ risk demands a ‘Plan C’, says NHS boss
New Covid restrictions will likely be a hot topic of conversation today after an NHS boss urged the Government to pull the trigger on Plan B.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “It is time for the Government to enact Plan B of its strategy without delay because, without pre-emptive action, we risk stumbling into a winter crisis.
“Also, health leaders need to understand what a ‘Plan C’ would entail if these measures are insufficient.
“The Government should not wait for Covid infections to rocket and for NHS pressures to be sky high before the panic alarm is sounded.”
Mr Taylor added that if the Government “fails to get a grip” on rising coronavirus cases, the nation’s recovery from the pandemic could be “put at risk”.
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