The UK is still at risk from a third wave, despite more than half of adults being fully vaccinated against Covid, a Sage scientist has warned.
Susan Michie, professor of health psychology at UCL, said there were "two reasons" why the country should be concerned, despite the progress of the vaccine rollout.
"One is the higher transmission, the more mutations and therefore the higher the likelihood of a variant that could undermine vaccination, and secondly the issue of long Covid, which is very debilitating," she told a Royal Society of Medicine webinar.
Imperial’s Professor Robin Shattock said he was "still concerned" about vaccine uptake in areas seeing a spike in cases linked to the Indian variant.
But he added: "If we are talking about a delay, we're talking about a delay of weeks, not months anymore, that could be very significant, so I'm not so sure why everybody is absolutely obsessed by fixing it to a date and not fixing it to the data."
Imperial colleague Professor Openshaw, who sits on the Nervtag group, said scientists would be looking for "early markers of severity and impact" such as hospitalisations.
It will be a case of "watching the virus throw up new variants and us countering with updating of the vaccines", he said, although raised the hope that Covid-19 might "run out of options".
Follow the latest updates below.
03:07 PM
And that's it for another day...
It's been another busy day in a hot Westminster, despite MPs still being away for recess.
Hopes of a summer getaway to Portugal have been dashed after the European country - and only viable major tourist destination currently on the green list - was demoted to amber (see 2pm).
Half the adult population of the UK is now fully vaccinated - but it still might not be enough, with scientists warning of a third wave resulting in a "weeks not months" delay to the June 21 reopening.
Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak appeared at odds over the end of furlough (see 9:53am and 10:14am) - although with both men due to attend a four-nations summit with Nicola Sturgeon they might find themselves united on behalf of the Union.
Meanwhile Priti Patel is under fire over a High Court ruling on Napier Barracks (11am), and Gavin Williamson continues to be under pressure after education tsar Sir Kevan Collins quit last night - although the Treasury is not without criticism (see 10:26am).
And Theresa May has joined the Tory rebels threatening to reverse cuts to foreign aid - but just seven per cent of readers think the backbenchers are right to do so, with 38 per cent backing the cut to 0.5 per cent of GDP and 55 per cent saying it should be cut entirely.
For more of today's news and analysis, read on.
02:55 PM
Labour attacks Government over peerage for Tory donor
A Tory donor who was made a peer against the advice of the Lords' appointment watchdog made a half-a-million-pound donation to Boris Johnson's party only days after taking up his seat.
Electoral Commission records show that Lord Cruddas donated £500,000 to the Conservative Party on February 5 - three days after being bestowed with the traditional scarlet robes of the House of Lords.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said he had been rewarded with a life peerage after "coincidentally" making the donation.
Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: "Whether it's handing out taxpayers' money to their mates or giving peerages to disgraced donors, there is always one rule for the Conservatives and their chums and another for the rest of us."
02:51 PM
Jonathan Saxty: Selfish Sturgeon's slow reopening risks the UK-wide recovery
It might be easy for the English to dismiss the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon that the vast majority of Scotland’s central belt will remain in Level 2 restrictions, amid talk of a potential ‘third wave’, writes Jonathan Saxty.
England, after all, is on course to exit restrictions for good in a little under three weeks. However, there are reasons why smugness should be kept to a minimum in the weeks and months ahead.
Firstly, despite the quasi-federal nature of our current political set-up, the country moves as one, especially in terms of the economy. This undermines the UK recovery as the economic impact of restrictions will continue to impede so many of our fellow countrymen and women.
Nadhim Zahawi has described the latest milestone - in which half of all UK adults have received both doses of the Covid vaccine - as "heart-warming news".
The minister added: "Everyone who has received their second dose can breathe a huge sigh of relief knowing that they have ultimate protection from the virus and the new variants."
An estimated 75.5 per cent of UK adults have also received a first dose of vaccine.
In Wales 85.7 per cent of adults are estimated to have had a first jab, some way ahead of England (75 per cent), Scotland (74.6 per cent) and Northern Ireland (73.9 per cent).
The Government has said it intends to offer a first dose of a vaccine to all adults by the end of July, and both doses to everyone aged 50 and over by June 21.
02:38 PM
Government did not do enough to protect care homes, two-thirds of Britons believe
Nearly two-thirds of British adults (63 per cent) believe the Government did not do enough to protect care homes from coronavirus at the start of the pandemic last year, a new poll has found.
Three in five of Conservative voters from 2019 (59 per cent), and almost three-quarters of those aged 55-plus (71 per cent) backed that statement in the days following Dominic Cummings's explosive claims, according to Savanta ComRes.
Meanwhile 38 per cent of respondents believe the Government ‘made a lot of mistakes’ at the beginning of the pandemic, with 43 per cent saying ministers ‘made some mistakes’.
Chris Hopkins, Savanta ComRes's political research director, said while the success of the vaccine "papers over a lot of cracks" the Government's "track record on the pandemic is patchy at best".
02:32 PM
Tom Harris: Labour should beware getting too far into bed with Biden
President Joe Biden’s latest initiative for a global minimum level of corporation tax is being tipped to result in a massive tax windfall for everyone, a godsend to public services the world over, still reeling under the impact of Covid.
But if anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is, writes Tom Harris.
Free money has always been an irresistible attraction for the Left, and if by “free” we mean extracted by painful means from international corporations, so much the better.
It’s odd, however, that the British Left, with a uniformity it rarely presents in any other policy sphere, has chosen to embrace Biden so unequivocally.
Conor Burns, former trade minister and long-time ally of Boris Johnson has had his second dose, and urged others to do the same.
Huge thanks to the wonderful, friendly NHS team in Westminster for my 2nd covid 💉 (and to @BourneAcademy for my mask!). When you get the call get the jab. This is our route back to freedom. And you are protecting others as well as your self. pic.twitter.com/gUMVLeXXzc
'Roll up our sleeves to end pandemic', says Health Secretary
Matt Hancock has urged everyone to get their Covid vaccine, as more than half of the UK's adults have received both doses.
The Health Secretary said: "Shortly after vaccinating three quarters of adults with a first dose, I'm thrilled that we have now vaccinated over half of adults with the life-saving second dose.
"We know how important the second dose is to give protection, particularly against the Delta variant. That's why we’ve brought forward appointments from 12 to 8 weeks for the most vulnerable people.
"I encourage everyone who is eligible to join the millions who have the fullest possible protection from this virus. Let's roll up our sleeves and put this pandemic behind us, once and for all."
01:50 PM
Analysis: Two doses forward, one step back
The race between the vaccine and the variants looks set to continue to the 11th hour , writes Catherine Neilan.
One on the one hand is the heartening news that more than half of UK adults are now fully vaccinated. While ministers have been keen to stress that the extent to which vaccinations prevent hospitalisation, it is clear there is a strong link between the two, and the higher that number gets before the mid-June announcement, the better for all of us.
However, case rates have risen to the highest level in six weeks. This in itself is not necessarily a concern - or even unexpected. But the numbers of younger adults and even children affected might be giving pause for thought.
The highest case rates are among 10 to 19-year-olds, with 72.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to May 30, up week-on-week from 55.1.
This morning Scotland's deputy first minister John Swinney told BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland that while very few children have been hospitalised until now, "the current numbers are on the high side. Certainly over the period of Covid we’ve not seen very many children hospitalised but we are seeing a number just now".
He raised the question that this could be "something in the new variants... that is making it more acutely challenging for children".
The one saving grace of the pandemic has been how thankfully few children have been affected. While the vaccines are taking us two doses closer to freedom, we must hope the variants are not taking us any steps back.
01:40 PM
'Let’s finish the job': Boris Johnson hails new milestone as half of UK is fully vaccinated
Half of the UK adult population are now fully vaccinated. It’s a remarkable achievement, made possible by every one of you coming forward.
Half of adults in the UK are estimated to have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, latest figures show.
The milestone comes a day after the Government announced that three-quarters of adults had received their first dose.
A total of 26,422,303 second doses have now been delivered since the vaccination rollout began almost six months ago.
This is the equivalent of 50.2 per cent of all people aged 18 and over. In England, 22,442,383 second doses have been given - the equivalent of 50.7 per cent of the adult population.
01:24 PM
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Covid reorders the world's strategic landscape – but not as China expected
The democratic West did not lose the pandemic after all, writes Ambrose Evans-Pritchard.
The US will probably emerge in better fundamental shape from the events of the last 18 months than Xi Jinping’s China. This is an enormous geopolitical upset.
It was universally assumed after Wave One and Two that the chaotic, ill-prepared states of North America and Europe had suffered an irreparable blow to their collective prestige, and a concomitant loss of global economic caste.
We can see in hindsight that they suffered neither.
The number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England has risen by 22 per cent, reaching the highest level in six weeks.
According to the latest Test and Trace figures, a total of 17,162 people tested positive in the country at least once in the week to May 26.
That is a rise of more than a fifth on the previous week and the highest number of people to test positive since the week to April 14.
Meanwhile, the number of rapid Covid-19 tests carried out in England has fallen to its lowest level in six weeks.
01:04 PM
GMB members elect Gary Smith as new general secretary
Gary Smith has been elected general secretary of the GMB union after winning just over half the vote in a ballot of members.
Mr Smith, the union's Scottish regional secretary, succeeds Tim Roache, who resigned last year after a series of allegations were made against him, which he has denied.
"It is the honour of my life to be elected GMB general secretary," said Mr Smith. "Thank you for listening to the different visions offered by the candidates, and thank you for your continuing membership of our great union."
Mr Smith won just under 31,000 votes compared with just under 17,000 for Rehana Azam and 15,525 for Giovanna Holt.
The turnout was 10.6 per cent.
01:00 PM
Portugal axed from UK’s green list, sparking holiday scramble
Portugal is to be axed from the UK’s green list, forcing thousands of British holidaymakers to cancel their trips or cut short their breaks to avoid quarantine, Charles Hymas writes.
Ministers are understood to have decided on Thursday morning to add Portugal to the amber list from next Tuesday at 4am after tests revealed what are believed to be previously-unknown variants of Covid. It will mean anyone returning from Portugal after then will have to quarantine for 10 days and take at least two PCR tests.
Sources said ministers had decided that with just weeks to go to the lifting of the final Covid restrictions on June 21, they should “not do anything that jeopardises further unlocking at this point.”
Napier Barracks decision 'highly irresponsible of Home Office', says Yvette Cooper
The chairwoman of the Commons' home affairs committee has said the Napier Barracks judgment (see 11:29am) was "damning".
Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "It shows how highly irresponsible the Home Office decision was to use dormitory accommodation in the middle of a Covid crisis, to have so many people in accommodation where they clearly couldn't have proper social distancing in place.
"It's clear - as the court judgment has said - it was inevitable that there could be a large-scale outbreak like this and appalling that it was because it obviously affected so many residents, but also staff who worked at the Napier Barracks, and also had an impact as a result of that on the local community as well."
12:37 PM
Fears grow that Portugal could be added to amber list
Portugal may be in line to have its restriction-free status revoked as scientists from the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) are concerned about rising infection rates and the emergence of variants.
This could result in the European country - and only viable major tourist destination currently on the green list - being reclassified as amber, or moved to a ‘watch list’ at the announcement.
Slow vaccination rates and the risk of spreading variants could also play a role in preventing other major European destinations from being classified as green.
It is understood that no new destinations will be added to the green travel list, including Spain, Greece, Italy and France are expected to remain amber, with ministers saying they are six to eight weeks behind the UK.
There had been hopes that Spanish and Greek islands plus Malta could be awarded green status today.
12:25 PM
Matt Hancock: Making vaccine available 'at cost to whole world' is 'biggest contribution we can make'
Matt Hancock is welcoming health ministers of the G7 to Oxford today - PA
Matt Hancock has urged Conservative MPs not to back a rebel amendment that seeks to reverse cuts to overseas aid.
The Health Secretary said the UK has "a very generous international aid programme and very difficult fiscal times" because of the pandemic.
But the "biggest contribution we can make" is making the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine "available at cost to the whole world".
He adds: "That is the sort of thing we can do to help the whole world get out of this pandemic."
12:21 PM
Have your say: Should the foreign aid budget be cut?
Boris Johnson is facing a potentially bruising vote next week, with several Tory MPs backing an amendment that would reverse his planned cut to overseas aid.
Number 10 has insisted the reduction from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of GDP is a temporary measure, necessitated by the pandemic-hit economic situation.
Some high profile figures including Andrew Mitchell, Jeremy Hunt and Caroline Noakes argue it is wrong to break out commitment to the world's poorest and amounts to "cuts by stealth", while others argue it is right in our straitened times.
But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.
12:13 PM
Patrick O'Flynn: Boris must clear out the ministerial dead wood
When will Covid be over? There is unlikely to come a moment when there are simply no more cases or deaths in store because “zero Covid” is probably as elusive as the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But when will the country be able to feel it has turned a page and embarked upon a much-needed new chapter of our invigorating island story?
Probably not, I would suggest, while all the same political faces we associate with the epic struggle against coronavirus continue to pop up at televised press conferences or in media interviews at the head of the same Whitehall departments.
Ministers must explain 'shameful' decision over Napier, says Labour
Labour has called for the Government to give an urgent statement on Napier barracks following the "shameful verdict" reached by a High Court judge this morning.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow home secretary, said:"Ministers have been warned - repeatedly - about the dangerous and unacceptable conditions at Napier.
"It was reckless and callous to house people in accommodation that created ideal conditions for outbreaks of Covid. This lack of compassion and competence put at risk the people staying on the site, staff and the local community.
"Ministers should make a statement - urgently - to explain how this injustice occurred, who will be held to account, and how they will ensure it can never happen again."
11:39 AM
Crossbench peer calls on Government to 'think again' on overseas aid cut
A crossbench peer and former chief executive of NHS England has thrown his weight behind Tory MPs planning to rebel over the Government's planned cuts to overseas aid (see 8:37am, 11:09am, 11:20am and others).
Lord Crisp, co-chair of the APPG Global Health and patron of Tropical Health & Education Trust, said the 0.7 per cent of GDP aid budget was "in our national interest, especially in the context of a global pandemic".
He added: It represents an important mechanism for providing support to other nations, providing funding and training through a network of healthcare partnerships, organisations and charities.
"The Government’s decision to scrap foreign aid spending at such a critical time is dangerous and diminishes the powerful Government rhetoric around creating a 'Global Britain'," Lord Crisp said.
"But most importantly, it threatens the final fight against Covid-19, the stability of our long-term recovery and will ultimately cost people their lives. Surely the Government can think again."
11:29 AM
Nicola Sturgeon demands furlough should 'continue for as long as necessary'
Nicola Sturgeon has told MSPs she will be demanding that furlough is extended "for as long as necessary" during this afternoon's four-nations summit.
The First Minister will join other leaders of the devolved administration at a meeting chaired by Boris Johnson, and attended by Cabinet ministers including Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak.
Mr Gove has already indicated his support for such a request, while the Chancellor has made it clear he expects the jobs support scheme to wind down by the current September expiry date.
But during First Minister Questions, Ms Sturgeon said she would "not only" be seeking assurances that furlough would continue where required, but also "commitments on public spending, and clarity that we are not going to see austerity cuts".
11:22 AM
Boris Johnson thanks pandemics for 'tireless' work
Boris Johnson has praised paramedics for having "worked tirelessly over the past year in some of the toughest circumstances".
The Prime Minister welcomed some of the frontline workers to Downing Street to thank them for their work during the pandemic.
Paramedics have worked tirelessly over the past year in some of the toughest circumstances. You are the first on the scene, ready to respond to every situation. Your work saves thousands of lives every day.
Queen to welcome Joe Biden to Windsor Castle later this month
The Queen will meet US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden later this month, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The 46th President is in the UK to attend the G7 gathering in Cornwall, which will be held in Carbis Bay between June 11-13.
Her Majesty met Mr Biden's predecessor Donald Trump when he made a state visit to the UK in June 2019, in the last days of Theresa May's premiership.
The Queen will meet the President of the United States of America and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle on Sunday, 13th June 2021. pic.twitter.com/GPJLYwFzyr
James Brokenshire 'recovering steadily' as he completes chemotherapy
James Brokenshire has completed his chemotherapy, saying the process has been "tough going but recovering steadily".
The security minister, who was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago, announced the recurrence of a tumour back in January.
Have just completed my cycles of chemo. Has been tough going but recovering steadily. Blessed to have had the love and support of Cathy and the children to help get me through. Huge thanks to the amazing team at @GSTTnhs for their care and kindness throughout treatment. pic.twitter.com/Q9fHVb9JlY
Furlough will 'largely burn itself out' by September, says employment expert
The UK's furlough scheme will "largely burn itself out" by the time it is due to expire in September as long as the roadmap out of lockdown continues, a director of the Institute for Employment Studies has said.
Today's figures (see 10:14am) date to March and April, meaning there are probably just one million people "fully furloughed", Tony Wilson told Sky News.
"There are substantially more people unemployed right now than there are on furlough... I don't believe furlough is acting as significant drag," he added.
"It should definitely be ending in September, but it should be ending with a whimper rather than a bang," he said.
10:52 AM
Home Office to keep Napier open as it 'considers next steps' after High Court judgment
The Home Office has defended its decision to house some asylum seekers in Napier, saying the barracks will "continue to operate" after the High Court ruling this morning (see 11:29am).
"During the height of the pandemic, to ensure asylum seekers were not left destitute, additional accommodation was required at extremely short notice," a spokesman for the department said.
"Such accommodation provided asylum seekers a safe and secure place to stay. Throughout this period our accommodation providers and sub-contractors have made improvements to the site and continue to do so.
"It is disappointing that this judgment was reached on the basis of the site prior to the significant improvement works which have taken place in difficult circumstances. Napier will continue to operate and provide safe and secure accommodation.
"We will carefully consider the ruling and our next steps."
10:47 AM
Stick with June 21 reopening to address 'acute' pubs staff shortage, minister told
It is of "paramount importance" that the June 21 reopening goes ahead to protect the pub industry amid "acute" staff shortages, the sector has warned.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has urged employment minister Mims Davies to reassure would-be workers that the industry is a "stable career choice", noting that some pubs have had to shut down "because they do not have the staff to open".
She added: "This is a major concern for our sector as it is hindering its recovery after lockdown... To show our pubs are back open for good and are a stable career choice, it is imperative the Government sticks to the road map and removes all restrictions on June 21.
"It remains the case that pubs and hospitality are a great career and you can go from bar staff to managing a pub very quickly. We just need the Government to confirm this by removing all restrictions on June 21."
10:40 AM
SNP calls for Priti Patel to resign over Napier barracks ruling
The SNP has called for Priti Patel to resign over the "disgraceful policy decision" to use Napier barracks to house asylum seekers during the pandemic (see 11:29am).
Stuart McDonald, the party's home affairs spokesperson, claimed the Home Secretary "ignored clear public health advice & put hundreds of people in danger".
Almost 200 people tested positive for coronavirus during an outbreak at the barracks earlier this year, senior Home Office officials told MPs in February.
This came after PHE told the Home Office that "opening multi-occupancy dormitory-style accommodation at Napier" was not supported by guidance in September.
Use of unsafe barracks was a disgraceful policy decision by the Home Office.
The Home Secretary ignored clear public health advice & put hundreds of people in danger with a Covid outbreak “inevitable”.
— Stuart McDonald MP (@Stuart_McDonald) June 3, 2021
10:33 AM
Tory party fined £10,000 over 'serious' data breach
The Conservative Party has been fined £10,000 for sending 51 emails in Boris Johnson's name to people who did not want to receive them.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was a "serious" breach in which emails addressed the recipients by name were sent out over eight days in July 2019, just after Mr Johnson became Prime Minister.
Because the party had switched email provider, it had not properly recorded that in 51 cases subscribers had asked to be removed from marketing lists. The investigation also found an "industrial-scale marketing email exercise" during the December 2019 election where nearly 23 million emails were sent and a further 95 complaints were raised.
ICO director of investigations Stephen Eckersley said: "The public have rights when it comes to how their personal data is used for marketing. Getting messages to potential voters is important in a healthy democracy, but political parties must follow the law when doing so.
"The Conservative Party ought to have known this, but failed to comply with the law."
10:29 AM
Asylum seekers win case against Home Office over 'squalid' detention site
The Home Office's decision to house cross-channel migrants in a "squalid" barracks in Folkestone was unlawful, the High Court has ruled.
Six asylum seekers claimed Napier Barracks was "unsafe" and that dormitory use caused a Covid-19 outbreak.
Mr Justice Linden's judgment looked in detail at a fire that broke out at the site in January, and when 200 people contracted coronavirus during an outbreak at the camp earlier this year.
He said: "I do not accept that the accommodation there ensured a standard of living which was adequate for the health of the claimants. Insofar as the defendant considered that the accommodation was adequate for their needs, that view was irrational."
A damages claim could be brought against Home Secretary Priti Patel as a result.
10:23 AM
Covid cases rise to highest rates since mid-April
A total of 17,162 people tested positive for Covid-19 in England at least once in the week to May 26, up 22% on the previous week, according to the latest Test and Trace figures.
It is the highest number of people testing positive since the week to April 14.
10:20 AM
Foreign aid rebellion 'not actually a rebellion', says Tory rebel
Former minister Harriett Baldwin has insisted there is "not actually a rebellion" brewing over the cut to foreign aid, stressing it is just a case of "upholding" legislation and the Conservative manifesto.
She says backbenchers led by Andrew Mitchell are "keen to test opinion" within the Commons to maintain the aid at 0.7 per cent of GDP, saying it is about the "principle" and "trust in what politicians tell you at election time".
"It is also about global Britain at a time when we are hosting G7... it is a terrible time to be making really drastic cuts to support we give around the world," Ms Baldwin told Sky News.
"For example, it will constrain the amount of surplus vaccine that we have here in the UK that we are able to send to much poorer countries to end this pandemic... it will mean more babies die, it will mean that fewer people get access to vaccines... I don't think this is the year to do it."
10:15 AM
Reverse foreign aid cuts to ensure 'truly global Britain', says David Davis
The Government should reverse its cut to overseas aid to ensure a "truly global Britain", former Brexit secretary David Davis has said.
The senior Tory is one of several high profile figures backing a potential rebellion in the Commons next week, alongside others including Theresa May (see below) and Andrew Mitchell.
He said: "The 0.7 per cent foreign aid spending pledge was a manifesto commitment. In providing aid to the world's poorest countries, we save lives and reduce crippling poverty.
"If the Government wants a truly global Britain, we must meet our international promises."
10:09 AM
Theresa May backs rebellion over foreign aid cuts
It won't be the first time the former prime minister has defied her successor - PA
Former prime minister Theresa May has backed a growing bid by Conservative rebels to force Boris Johnson to reverse his widely-criticised cuts to foreign aid.
She joins her former deputy Damian Green and Johnny Mercer, who recently resigned as veterans minister, in adding their names to an amendment led by former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell (see 8:37am).
Mr Johnson has been criticised across the political spectrum for temporarily reducing foreign aid from 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent, breaking a manifesto commitment.
You can have your say in today's poll at 9:29am.
09:59 AM
Edwin Poots: Post-Brexit checks suspended over 'coded threat' against staff
The newly-elected leader of the DUP Edwin Poots has defended his decision to suspend post-Brexit checks at Northern Ireland ports earlier this year.
Mr Poots said he was "very concerned" about the risk to staff after independent charity Crimestoppers received a report from a "coded source".
"That was actually a coded threat and that caused me much more concern because of the fact there was a code with that threat," he told MLAs. "It struck me that that sort of material should not have been with held from the councils at that point."
Mr Poots contended there was a "whole series of events" which led him to conclude they could not guarantee the safety of staff.
09:45 AM
Global vaccine passports 'some way off', says Health Secretary
Matt Hancock has said that an internationally agreed approach to coronavirus vaccine certification remains "some way off".
The Health Secretary told reporters: "Ultimately there are a number of countries around the world that have said they're definitely going to have a requirement to be vaccinated in order to travel.
"We're making sure that here any Brit can see their vaccine status, but we're some way off having an internationally agreed approach for that.
"It's something we talk about and are discussing but there's still a lot of work to do."
09:43 AM
Matt Hancock: 'Good signs' from hospitalisation data
Matt Hancock has said it remains "too early" to say whether the final stage of the roadmap will go ahead on June 21, but said there are "good signs" from the data.
Speaking ahead of a G7 health ministers' meeting, he told reporters: "Of course I look at those data every day, we publish them every day, the case numbers matter but what really matters is how that translates into the number of people going to hospital, the number of people sadly dying.
"The vaccine breaks that link - the question is how much the link has yet been broken because the majority of people who ended up in hospital are not fully vaccinated.
"That's a good sign if you like because it means that the vaccine is clearly protecting people from ending up in hospital but it also demonstrates that we need to keep going with this vaccine programme."
09:26 AM
Treasury must find 'money from the back of the sofa' for schools catch-up, says senior Tory
The Treasury must "find the money from the back of the sofa" to properly support schools' recovery from the pandemic, a senior Tory has said, amid a row over proposed funding.
Last night Boris Johnson's education catch-up tsar Sir Kevan Collins resigned, saying the £1.4bn package "does not come close to meeting the scale of the challenge" posed by months of school disruption.
This morning Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons' education committee, acknowledged "there are funding constraints" caused by Covid, but highlighted the £16bn handed to defence last autumn and "£200 million being spent on a yacht" as proof that the country had reserves.
"Where there is the political will, the Treasury can find the money from the back of the sofa, and there has to be that political will because we need a long-term plan for education, a proper funding settlement," he told Radio 4's Today programme.
Safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins told Sky News the £1.4bn package was "a huge amount of money", which would be "targeted" towards children most in need.
09:25 AM
Climate activists target Cop26 sponsor for 'greenwashing'
Climate activists blocked the entrance to the SSE power station - PA
Climate activists have blocked the entrance to a power station with a washing machine to highlight "greenwashing" policies.
About 20 activists from Extinction Rebellion Scotland and Glasgow Calls Out Polluters are protesting at the SSE gas power station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Four activists are locked on to a green-painted washing machine and two red gas canisters at the entrance to the site.
Cathel Hutchison, from Glasgow Calls Out Polluters, said: "By sponsoring Cop26 in Glasgow, SSE want you to think they are leading the charge into a renewable future... SSE are not fit to be given a platform at Cop26."
The protest is part of a series of Extinction Rebellion actions calling out "greenwashing" ahead of the G7 conference in Cornwall on June 10.
09:14 AM
Joined up Government: Chancellor hails end of furlough for 1.3m
Michael Gove might be out on a limb (for a change), but the Cabinet Office minister suggested this morning that furlough could be extended (see 9:53am).
Meanwhile Rishi Sunak is heralding the end of furlough for 1.3m people across March and April. The number of people relying on the jobs scheme has fallen to the lowest level since it was created, with 3.4m now registered.
Meanwhile HMRC data released last month showed that the number of payrolled employees jumped by nearly 100,000 in April.
The Chancellor said: "These figures show the scheme is naturally winding down as people get back to work and take advantage of the opportunities out there in the jobs market.
"We’ll continue to support those who need it through to September but I am hopeful that we’ll see more people moving back in to work as we continue on the road to recovery."
09:02 AM
Planet Normal: China will have destroyed proof of lab leak, says former MI6 chief
Evidence that a lab leak in Wuhan sparked the coronavirus pandemic has probably been destroyed by China, the former head of MI6 has said.
Sir Richard Dearlove, who headed up the secret intelligence service between 1999 and 2004, warned that it would be difficult to prove that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was working on ‘gain of function’ experiments to make a natural coronavirus more deadly to humans.
Speaking to Allison Pearson on the Telegraph’s Planet Normal podcast, he warned that the West had been naive in its trust of China, which had infiltrated scientific institutions and journals in Britain and beyond.
Listen in full below.
08:53 AM
Government 'open minded' about extending furlough, says Michael Gove
The UK Government is "open minded" about extending the furlough scheme, Michael Gove has said, ahead of a four-nations summit in which Nicola Sturgeon is expected to press for it to continue beyond September.
Asked about the possibility the jobs retention scheme could be rolled over, he told BBC Radio Scotland: "We are open minded, yes."
Mr Gove pressed the case for the union, saying the "huge success" of furlough was only possible "thanks to the broad shoulders of the UK Treasury".
He added: "We'll be spending more on the NHS, we will be spending more on education, we will be spending more on criminal justice, because in all of these areas it is absolutely vital that we build back better.
"Extra funding for everyone will continue, and it is important we all learn from each other about how that money should be spent."
08:37 AM
Gavin Williamson working 'incredibly hard' on recovery plan, says Matt Hancock
Matt Hancock has said Gavin Williamson is working "incredibly hard" to ensure children can recover the education lost during the pandemic.
The Education Secretary is under fire after announcing a watered-down £1.4bn catch-up package yesterday, which prompted the PM's adviser Sir Kevan Collins to quit.
Speaking to broadcasters ahead of a G7 health ministers' meeting, the Health Secretary said: "The consequences of the pandemic are obviously serious for children who haven't been able to get all the education they need and our plan is to make sure that everybody can get that education back.
"I think the Education Secretary is doing a great job putting that plan together and working incredibly hard to make sure children get the recovery of their education that they need."
08:35 AM
Boris Johnson marks fourth anniversary of 'cowardly' London Bridge attack
Boris Johnson has marked the fourth anniversary of the "cowardly" London Bridge terrorist attack, in which eight people were killed.
Three men drove a van deliberately into pedestrians on the bridge, before crashing stabbing people in and around restaurants and pubs at nearby Borough Market.
"Today, as then, we stand united and resolute against terrorism and the dangerous ideology that inspires it," he said.
My thoughts today are with the families of those who lost their lives and all those affected by the cowardly terrorist attack at London Bridge four years ago.
Today, as then, we stand united and resolute against terrorism and the dangerous ideology that inspires it.
Have your say: Should the foreign aid budget be cut?
Boris Johnson is facing a potentially bruising vote next week, with several Tory MPs backing an amendment that would reverse his planned cut to overseas aid.
Number 10 has insisted the reduction from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of GDP is a temporary measure, necessitated by the pandemic-hit economic situation.
Some high profile figures including Andrew Mitchell, Jeremy Hunt and Caroline Noakes argue it is wrong to break out commitment to the world's poorest and amounts to "cuts by stealth", while others argue it is right in our straitened times.
But what do you think? Have your say in the poll below.
08:22 AM
Tory MP 'disappointed' by rebel move to reverse overseas aid cut
Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell may be leading a Tory rebellion over the Government's cuts to overseas aid (see 8:37am), but it seems not all of his colleagues agree.
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury, said he is "disappointed" by the efforts to block the cut in aid from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of GDP.
"Where do they expect this additional money to come from?" he tweeted. "Hard working families already paying too much tax."
Following pandemic when national debt risen to almost 100% of GDP & economy taken a battering am disappointed with some MPs seeking to reverse cut to foreign aid budget. Where do they expect this additional money to come from? Hard working families already paying too much tax.
Donald Trump said he’d give £100k ‘not to hear Theresa May talk’
Donald Trump pointedly left Theresa May off the list of world leaders that he gave 10 out of 10 - Reuters
Donald Trump said he would pay £100,000 to avoid hearing Theresa May speak after learning she was charging that much to give a speech.
According to this week's Spectator, Piers Morgan said he informed Donald Trump just before the last US election that former prime minister Theresa May "gets paid more than £100,000 a pop for speeches".
Mr Morgan writes that the former president "exploded into mocking laughter and spluttered: 'Are you kidding me? I'd pay £100,000 not to hear her talk!'"
Spanish and Greek islands 'could be added to green list'
There is growing speculation that popular holiday islands could be added to the Government's travel green list on Thursday, paving the way for greater travel options this summer.
Robert Boyle, former director of strategy at British Airways' parent company IAG, predicted that a number of tourist hotspots will be added to the green tier.
He wrote in a blog post: "It still seems very likely that whilst Spain and Greece will not make it onto the green list, many of their islands will, due to lower case rates and higher vaccinations than on the mainland."
Mr Boyle added: "Malta, Finland and Slovakia are fairly safe bets, based on high testing rates and low reported cases."
However a new coronavirus variant, thought to have originated in Nepal, has spread to Europe and could be a threat to foreign holidays.
Watered-down education funding is 'a false economy', warns former children's commissioner
The former children's commissioner for England has said the decision to water down funding for a schools catch-up programme is "a false economy".
Anne Longfield told BBC Breakfast: "We've seen in other areas of course spending has needed to happen during the pandemic. Furlough, not least. None of us would say that wasn't money well spent, but somehow when it gets to children and education there's so many hoops that need to be jumped through.
"So, wherever this lives, whether it's in Number 10 or whether it's in the Treasury, this is a false economy.
"Government says it wants to level up, this is at the heart of levelling up and not to do so will really leave a whole generation of children potentially stranded."
07:58 AM
Lord Frost: EU must show common sense or risk Northern Ireland peace
The EU is insisting on checks 'even when all the products are clearly destined for consumers in Northern Ireland,' Lord Frost said - PA
The European Union will undermine the peace process in Northern Ireland unless it shows more “common sense” in negotiations over post Brexit customs checks, Lord Frost has warned.
The former Brexit negotiator said that the EU’s insistence on so many checks "even when all the products are clearly destined for consumers in Northern Ireland" had led to “delays and complexity” for businesses and concerned unionists.
"We urge the EU to work with us to embrace a common sense approach, focused on genuine problems, not on mitigating against risks that don’t exist," he wrote in the Belfast Telegraph.
"Only if implemented in a pragmatic and proportionate way can the Protocol support the peace process."
07:48 AM
Sir Kevan Collins' resignation should be 'wake-up call' on education needs, says expert
The resignation of catch-up tsar Sir Kevan Collins should be a "wake-up call" for the Government to better resource education's recovery, an expert has said.
Dr Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said "at least 10 times" the £1.4bn package announced yesterday would be required "for children to have a chance of catching up".
He told the Today programme: "I just hope that it's a wake-up call for Government to see this as the beginning of a much bigger, more ambitious programme."
He added: "Remember this is an investment for the future. If we don't address these issues now the real fear is that we will fail a whole generation.... There is compelling evidence that, if done well, if you extend teaching, then that will help us catch up. I don't see any other way of doing it."
07:45 AM
Postponed recovery four-nation summit set for today
Nicola Sturgeon had criticised the summit's 'very rough agenda' - AFP
Ministers from the four devolved administrations will join Boris Johnson for a virtual meeting about pandemic recovery plans today.
As well as the Prime Minister, attendees include Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak and the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Secretaries, as well as Nicola Sturgeon, Mark Drakeford, Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill.
The four-nation summit had been due last week but was postponed.
Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford wrote to Mr Johnson raising concerns about the agenda and purpose of the meeting, saying the discussion must be "meaningful" and criticising his office for sending a "very rough agenda".
07:37 AM
Boris Johnson faces huge Tory rebellion over cuts to foreign aid
Andrew Mitchell has said the "dreadful political—not economic—decision shames our country" - Eddie Mulholland
Boris Johnson is facing a major Commons rebellion over his decision to slash foreign aid in the face of Covid pressure on public finances.
Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip, is leading a parliamentary push to ensure new legislation make up the shortfall left by the cut, which is deeply unpopular among Conservative MPs.
A further 14 Tory backbenchers, including Jeremy Hunt, the former foreign secretary, and Sir Desmond Swayne, the former aid minister, have backed the amendment so far.
Conservative critics believe the cut, which prompted a Foreign Office minister to resign when first announced, flies in the face of their manifesto commitment, however the Prime Minister has insisted it is only temporary.
'This work will continue', minister insists, as she thanks Sir Kevan Collins for input
A Home Office minister has thanked the education tsar who quit last night over the watered-down catch-up package, but insisted it is "very much a long-term programme".
Victoria Atkins, the safeguarding minister, told Radio 4's Today programme the Government wanted to "bring people with us on this policy development", stressing that educational recovery required a "programme of ongoing work".
She added: "We are incredibly grateful to Sir Kevan [Collins] for his work, but it is very much a long term piece of work...
"It is a great pleasure to work with him, we are extremely grateful for his work, but believe you-me, this work will continue and it is very much looking to the future to try and build over some of those problems that we know children have faced in the last 12-18 months."
07:20 AM
Extending school day has 'intended and unintended consequences', says minister
The Government is still trying to understand "the intended and unintended consequences" of issues like lengthening the school day, a minister has said.
Victoria Atkins, the safeguarding minister, told Radio 4 Today programme that the Government was "very, very conscious" of the lost learning, and socialising, suffered by children during the pandemic.
"We know there is evidence that shows very effective tutoring... can boost a child's catch-up by three-to-five months' worth, and that is obviously a significant gain."
The package would also help support teacher development, she added.
She said she was "not privy" to discussions between the Treasury and DfE but ministers were "very much looking at" extending the school day.
07:16 AM
Exclusive: 71pc of Britons would back tougher border controls for more domestic freedom
The vast majority of voters would support stricter border controls if it meant greater domestic freedom, exclusive polling for The Telegraph has found.
Some 80 per cent of Conservative voters and 74 per cent of Labour voters said they would back tougher measures at the UK's borders, including restrictions on foreign holidays, if that allowed the country to open up. Across the political divide, that view was shared by 71 per cent of respondents.
More than three-quarters - 79 per cent - of people are either very worried or somewhat worried about a third wave hitting the UK, while just 15 per cent said they are not worried at all.
The polling, by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, was conducted yesterday and sampled 1,500 people.
Some 52 per cent said the Government had done a bad job regulating travel into and out of the country so far.
07:10 AM
Home Office 'very, very, very supportive' of traffic lights system, says minister
The Home Office is "very, very, very supportive" of the traffic light system, a minister has insisted, amid claims that confusion is risking the importation of new variants.
Victoria Atkins told Times Radio the system was clear, and that countries on the amber list are ones "which we very much ask people not to travel to unless there are very particular, very dire consequences they're having to deal with, such as a dying relative".
She added: "The overall goal [is] to get back to normality, pre-pandemic normality. But I think all understand we've got to take careful steps to do that. And so the travel plan and travel lists are very much part of our road map out of lockdown restrictions, but we do have to look at the data.
"We do have to look at what is happening elsewhere in the world, in order to help advise the public as to what is allowed and what is not allowed. But as with anything, we're asking the public to exercise their common sense and that is the way that we're going to be able to return to normality."
07:06 AM
Scrap 'confusing' amber list to protect against variants, ministers told
Labour is applying pressure to scrap the amber list outright, claiming it is causing confusion and risking importing new variants.
Nick Thomas Symonds, the shadow home secretary, told Radio 4's Today programme: "The amber list has to be scrapped because of the huge confusion it is creating... The Government has made a complete hash of this."
He added: "It may be a tough message in terms of amber list countries but we have to say this because the Government has not been acting in the way it should be with regard to our borders."
Boris Johnson is due to meet ministers today to decide whether Portugal should be dropped from the green list and instead rated amber, requiring holidaymakers to quarantine for 10 days on their return and pay for two PCR tests.
07:04 AM
Minister defends catch-up package after education tsar says it is 'too narrow, too small, too slow'
A minister has defended the £1.4bn catch-up package, following the resignation of the Prime Minister's adviser Sir Kevan Collins last night.
Victoria Atkins, the safeguarding minister, said the Government's education recovery fund was "very much focused on what we can deliver and deliver quickly".
The catch-up tsar had said the package of support is "too narrow, too small and will be delivered too slowly".
But Ms Atkins told Sky News the Government was "continuing to look at things like lengthening the school day".
She insisted £1.4bn was "a huge amount of money" that could be deployed rapidly, with "wider work" taking place longer term.
06:31 AM
School tsar quits after Treasury waters down £15bn rescue package
Boris Johnson's education catch-up tsar resigned on Wednesday night as he accused ministers of a "half-hearted" approach to helping thousands of schoolchildren whose learning has been disrupted by the Covid pandemic.
Sir Kevan Collins warned that the current funding allocated "does not come close to meeting the scale of the challenge" posed by months of school disruption and said he had "no option" but to quit.
In a scathing statement, Sir Kevan – appointed just four months ago – added that the rescue package announced on Wednesday betrayed "an undervaluation of the importance of education".
His resignation came less than 24 hours after Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, announced a new £1.4 billion cash injection for pupil tuition and teacher training but failed to give the green light to Sir Kevan's call for a more radical extension of the school day.
It represented just one-tenth of the £15 billion funding that Sir Kevan said was necessary to help students catch up, with friends revealing that he had privately expressed dismay on Tuesday evening and feared he had "let down" the sector.
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
Teams have made their big splashes in free agency and made their draft picks, it's time for you to do the same. It's fantasy football mock draft time. Some call this time of year best ball season, others know it's an opportunity to get a leg up on your competition for when you have to draft in August. The staff at Yahoo Fantasy did their first mock draft of the 2024 season to help you with the latter. Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens are here to break it all down by each round and crush some staff members in the process.
With free agency and the draft behind us, what 32 teams look like today will likely be what they look like Week 1 and beyond for the 2024 season. Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski reveal the post-draft fantasy power rankings. The duo break down the rankings in six tiers: Elite offensive ecosystems, teams on the cusp of being complete mixed bag ecosystems, offensive ecosystems with something to prove, offenses that could go either way, and offenses that are best to stay away from in fantasy.
It’s key to note that we’re not saying the “best team” or “best roster.” Instead, we’re talking about the best confluence of factors that can outline a path for survival and then success.
Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the Padres-Marlins trade that sent Luis Arraez to San Diego, as well as recap all the action from this weekend in baseball and send birthday wishes to hall-of-famer Willie Mays.
In the most anticlimactic way possible, Nintendo on Tuesday confirmed years of rumors: The Nintendo Switch 2 console is on the way. "We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year," wrote Shuntaro Furukawa, the president of Nintendo, on X. Rather, Furukawa wanted to warn users not to expect the actual announcement in next month's Nintendo Direct livestream.
An annual government report offered a glimmer of good news for Social Security and a jolt of good news for Medicare even as both programs continue to be on pace to run dry next decade.
Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your finances, stick to a spending plan and reach your money goals. These are the best budget-tracking apps available right now.
