ECSTASY AND AGONY
GOOD NEWS England make winning Euros start BAD NEWS Fury as Boris set to confirm June 21 is OFF (amid fears lockdown will drag on and on...)
BORIS Johnson is tonight set to delay Freedom Day by a month – to the fury of business leaders and Tory MPs.
The Prime Minister is expected to confirm that the June 21 Freedom Day will be pushed back to July 19 following a sharp rise in cases of the Indian variant.
Ignoring a mounting revolt by Tory MPs and dire warnings from the hospitality and theatre industries, Mr Johnson will argue that scrapping all restrictions now is likely to fuel the surge – and the public needs to be ‘patient’ so the country does not go into reverse.
Yesterday, millions of Britons put aside fears of a delay and headed out to cheer on the England football team during their Euro 2020 win over Croatia. On one of the hottest days of the year, beaches and parks were packed.
A Whitehall source said last night the Prime Minister was ‘determined’ to present a new exit plan ‘so this doesn’t just drag on’.
This is likely to involve a fresh drive to accelerate the rate of second jabs, which are seen as vital to halting the spread of the new variant. The source said: ‘It may be better to pause things rather than risk getting into a position where if things get prickly we have to go into reverse. But the PM is very clear
BRITONS freedom they rivers the are Amid unlikely year flocked on fears so in the made far. the to that to second be beaches, sun Covid their lifted yesterday hottest own on restrictions parks June bid day – and for 21, as of people droves and along protested at waterways. the coast, by gathering in beauty in spots their
observed Little social at Southend- distancing on-Sea, appeared Bournemouth to be on to the or Brighton, sand as where the mercury families crammed soared – making the UK hotter than some parts of Spain and Greece.
Others stripped off to take a dip in refreshing waters including day-trippers at Warleigh Weir near Bath, and paddle boarders in Coverack, Cornwall. Horse riders were among those trying to cool off in the sea at Highcliffe Beach, near Christchurch in Dorset, while punters took to the River Cam in Cambridge for a pleasant paddle.
Pub beer gardens were also packed with revellers watching England’s opening win against Croatia at the European Championships. And the 22,500 lucky fans allowed into Wembley for the game basked in some of the hottest rays of all – with the top temperature of the day having been recorded at 27.9C (82F) at nearby Heathrow.
That was just shy of the 28.3C (83F) record for 2021 so far, set on June 2, in Northolt, west London, making yesterday the second hottest day of the year.
The Met Office said there would be a North- South split in the weather today with it feeling fresher further north with stronger winds. Forecasters said the scorching temperatures are likely to continue until Wednesday, when the mercury could top 30C (86F) in the South East for the first time this year. But they urged the public to enjoy the heatwave while it lasts, because thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected to sweep in and break the hot spell by Wednesday night. Torrential rain, hail, lightning and strong gusty winds are also possible, they said.
The heavy downpours will cause temperatures to drop considerably to 21C (70F) in the South on Thursday and could cause localised flooding, with some places seeing up to two inches of rain in just a few hours.
Becky Mitchell, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: ‘We will keep the heat in the south east until Wednesday, when temperatures will get up to 30C (86F). Monday will be fresher in the North and there will be thundery showers, with a risk of flooding by Wednesday evening. Temperatures will come down quite a lot by the end of the week and it will feel much fresher by the weekend.’
A thunderstorm warning has been issued for much of England and Wales between 6pm on Wednesday and 6am on Friday.
A spokesman added there was ‘significant uncertainty’ about the location and timing of the thunderstorms but they are expected to move north-east across parts of England and Wales.
They added: ‘ Homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail and strong winds.
‘Some communities become cut off by flooded roads [and] there is a slight chance that power cuts could occur and that other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.’
‘Feel much fresher by the weekend’