Matt’s told to clean up
Lockdown lift hope as all adults to be offered jab by July
LABOUR is calling on Matt Hancock to come clean on billions of pounds of virus-related contracts.
The demand comes after the High Court ruled that the Health Secretary had acted unlawfully in failing to publish details of the deals which bypassed normal tendering rules.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary Angela Rayner said: “He cannot simply brush off this court ruling.
“Matt Hancock must commit to cleaning up the cronyism and waste that has marred government contracting during the pandemic.”
Labour claims £1.7billion worth of contracts were awarded through emergency procedures which allow ministers and MPS to recommend companies.
In a judgement on Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that Mr Hancock had breached his legal obligations.
PATSY Kensit is looking in dazzling form as she returns to our screens.
The actress, who turns 53 next month, features in ITV drama Mcdonald & Dodds, which kicks off next Sunday.
And she says filming the show kept her busy in lockdown last November.
But she admits she has struggled as restrictions mean she has been unable to see sons James, 27, and Lennon, 21.
Patsy said they usually visit her at her North London home every day, adding: “It’s so painful I can’t tell you. Every day it’s been hard. I don’t let the boys know but I know they feel it because they’re constantly checking in.”
Patsy found fame as the singer in pop group Eighth Wonder and has been in Holby City and Emmerdale, plus hit film Lethal Weapon 2. And she was once as famous for her love life as her career – but now values her privacy.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror’s Notebook magazine, she said: “I can never understand why anyone is in any way interested in my love life.”
BRITAIN could be set for a summer of freedom as every adult in Britain is to be offered the Covid jab by JULY – two months ahead of schedule.
Holiday companies, pub bosses, travel experts and retail chiefs welcomed the dramatic acceleration of the drive to vaccinate the population.
One pub and brewery chief described it as incredible and said: “As the warmer weather returns, I think we are going to see people come out of their bunkers and have a fantastic summer.”
Tomorrow the Prime Minister will chart a cautious “roadmap” out of the third lockdown after a year of pandemic restrictions. The timeline is… zprimary and secondary schools to return on March 8. Care home visits allowed for one nominated relative.
znon-contact outdoor sports such as tennis and golf would be allowed two weeks later.
zfriends and families to be allowed to meet in time for Easter, but restricted initially to two households.
znon-essential shops to open just after Easter, but hairdressers and beauty shops will stay closed for longer
zpubs could be open for outdoor service only in April but without the 10pm curfew or “substantial meal” rule.
zpubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will open more widely in May but customers will be limited to meeting one other household or obeying the rule of six outdoors.
Meetings indoors, probably under the rule of
AHEAD: The PM’S vaccine programme six, would return in early June.
The possibility of social mixing returning “broadly back to normal” by July.
In a further boost for Mr Johnson’s roadmap, yesterday’s Covid infection figure was 10,406 – down 22% on last Saturday. And the death toll was 445, which was down 28%.
The PM’S new deadline to vaccinate all over-18s is months ahead of the original autumn target.
And he also promises that all over-50s plus those with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk will have been invited by April 15 – two weeks ahead of schedule.
Tourism chief Patricia Yates of Visit Britain said: “This is very welcome news in the pathway towards opening up and leading some sort of normal life.
“The scientists have indicated that some social distancing will continue and we don’t know whether the vaccination will change that.
“The end of social distancing would be hugely welcome, particularly for the smaller pubs and restaurants that have been really hard hit economically.”
Scientists warn that international travel is still out of bounds without quarantine but travel company bosses hope the speeded-up vaccine rollout could change the outlook.
Paul Charles of the PC Agency travel consultancy, who is spearheading the
SOS – Save Our Summer – campaign, said: “We need to see a timetable for opening up the travel sector by May, domestically and overseas.
“The PM has an opportunity on Monday to save half a million jobs and give positive outlook for travel.”
Emma Coulthurst, of holiday price comparison site Travelsupermarket, said: “It’s given people hope that some form of safely-controlled overseas travel – through a mixture of vaccine certificates and testing - will be able to take place.” Jonathan Neame, chief executive of brewers Shepherd Neame – which owns 300 pubs in England – and chairman of Visit Kent, spoke of a good summer ahead and said: “I take my hat off to the Government for this incredible vaccine rollout.
“It is very impressive and clearly this is the way out for us. “
Mr Johnson said yesterday: “We will now aim to offer a jab to every adult by the end of July, helping us protect the most vulnerable sooner, and take further steps to ease some of the restrictions in place.”
A total of 17.2 million Brits have had their first dose of either the Pfizer or Astra Zeneca vaccine.
■ The head of the World Trade Organisation told Mr Johnson and other leaders of rich countries they should give surplus vaccines to poorer countries now so everyone benefits.