Recap updates as Boris Johnson delays end of lockdown

Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told MPs he thinks it is “totally unacceptable” that the Government will be holding a press conference this evening on expected changes to the Covid road map timetable before telling the House of Commons.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to answer questions in the chamber at 8.30pm and Sir Lindsay said: “Can I just say, we weren’t going to get a statement until I got involved with Downing Street. The fact is this has been forced to actually get a statement today, it was going to be left to tomorrow which would have been totally unacceptable.

“The fact is – I understand the Prime Minister at the moment is on Nato, there is a big conference going on, he isn’t here – that’s why I insisted that somebody came to make this statement. The timing of it is 8.30pm. I thought that was better than waiting for the Prime Minister to make a statement tomorrow.

“This House needs to know, it needs to know first. I find it totally unacceptable that once again, once again, that we see Downing Street running roughshod over members of Parliament. We’re not accepting it and I’m at the stage where I’m beginning to look for other avenues if they’re not going to treat this house seriously.

“But I will say I think it’s time for me to have a meeting with the Prime Minister to actually put on the record here now but with him that this House matters.”

You can watch it on all major news channels.

It is due to start at 6pm.

Less than an hour from now.

Government data up to June 13 shows that of the 71,672,208 jabs given in the UK so far, 41,698,429 were first doses – a rise of 147,228 on the previous day.

Some 29,973,779 were second doses, an increase of 181,121.

The Government confirmed there had been a total of 7,742 new cases across the country.

This included 121 in Hampshire, the fifth day in a row over 100 cases.

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The Prime Minister has announced that the easing of lockdown will not go ahead as planned on June 21.

It has been pushed to July 19, four weeks later.

While the planned lifting of all Covid restrictions will not go ahead on June 21, there will be some easing.

Weddings will be allowed to have more than 30 guests, and the same for wakes.

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Nightclub owners in Portsmouth are disappointed that they will have to wait even longer to properly reopen their doors.

Since indoor dining returned, nightclubs throughout the city have instead doubled up as a bar to ensure revenue comes in.

But as the government announces that the full return of nightclubs will be postponed as the Covid-19 roadmap is delayed, owners have voiced their disappointment.

Astoria in Guildhall Walk is a popular nightclub for students and locals alike, but in recent weeks has been operating as a bar instead.

Owner Alistair Ritchie says he feels let down by the government announcement, having already made arrangements for June 21.

He said: ‘I am a bit disappointed, to tell the truth. At the start of all this we were told that the vaccine would signal the end of these lockdowns – and now our full reopening has been put on hold once again.’

The Prime Minister’s lockdown delay has been described as a “catastrophe” for the theatre and live entertainment sector.

In a statement, Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire of Trafalgar Entertainment said: “This delay is yet another bungle from a Government that wouldn’t be given a single star in a review of its performance. The confusion and muddled-messages are reminiscent of a West End farce.”

They argue the Government’s own data shows a trip to the theatre is less dangerous than going to the pub, restaurant or supermarket, and stressed the sector’s importance to public life.

Sir Howard and Dame Rosemary, who have two West End productions due to start next month, added: “With the data supporting a return to live events at full capacity – and with risks now diminishing – we urge the Government to act before it’s too late.

“During the pandemic this Government has been fond of three-word slogans. Hands, Face, Space. Build back better. Today we ask them to consider a few more. Open our theatres. Enough is enough. Let audiences in.”

Boris Johnson said he was announcing the delay to “give the NHS that extra time”.

But the Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference weddings would be able to go ahead with more than 30 guests – provided social distancing was in place.

The same provisions would apply to wakes, he said.

“We will continue to pilot events such as Euro 2020 and some theatrical performances,” he said, indicating they will be allowed larger crowds than under the restrictions currently in place elsewhere as part of the research programme.

The NHS could “run into trouble” if the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid continues on an “exponential path”, England’s chief medical officer has warned.

Presenting data on the Government’s four tests for lifting coronavirus restrictions, Professor Chris Whitty said rates of hospitalisation are low in all parts of the country, but there was a “rapid rise” particularly in the North West with the rest of England following.

Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, he said these numbers are “still relatively modest compared to the capacity of the NHS”, adding: “But several doubling times, a relatively small number of doubling times and you start getting to really quite large numbers.” Prof Whitty said Covid-19 cases were increasing across the country, adding the link between people being admitted to hospital had been “substantially weakened” but “it has not been completely stopped”.

He said the rates of people being admitted to hospital were following a rise in cases but with a delay.

Prof Whitty added: “So although we don’t think an immediate overwhelming of the NHS is likely, if this continues on an exponential path, and in particular if that then accelerated further due to further loosening, then we would run into trouble in a relatively small number of doubling times.”