‘Big Brother’ Boris delays lockdown lift
Disappointment as thousands will miss out on final
BORIS Johnson was last night lashed by fuming Tories, broke businesses and depressed Brits for an “Orwellian” five-week lockdown extension.
The PM said he was being forced to delay “Freedom Day” on June 21 after Covid cases soared by a third in a week.
Breaking his long-standing pledge to lift restrictions next Monday, Bozo grovelled at a gloomy press conference.
He said: “I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer. We will hold off until July 19. I am confident we won’t need more than four weeks .
“It’s unmistakably clear that the vaccines are working – but now is the time to ease off the accelerator.”
Stuck
Some likened the delay to author George Orwell’s bleak novel 1984, in which the public are controlled by Big Brother and “double speak”.
One ranted: “WTF? Millions are double-jabbed, months of promises yet we’re still stuck in a George Orwell nightmare. When will Big Brother Boris let us out?!”
Bozo insisted the delay would prevent up to 500 deaths a day.
It means Brits will still only be allowed to meet in groups of six.
Nightclubs, strip clubs and events including live gigs will stay closed, but the PM scrapped a cap on wedding guests.
Ukhospitality is predicting it will mean £3billion in lost revenue. Its chief Kate Nicholls pleaded with the PM to “unlock and let us live with Covid”.
Emma Mcclarkin, chief of the British Beer & Pub Association, said the delay was “hard for our sector to stomach”.
● BORIS Johnson has been in secret talks with Lord Lloyd-webber to save the billionaire Tory donor’s delayed Cinderella musical. He said: “On Cinderella – Lord Webber’s latest – I’ve been in talks with him to make it work.”
THE Freedom Day U-turn spells heartache for thousands of England fans who could now miss out on the chance to cheer their heroes on to Euro 2020 glory.
The FA and Uefa hoped to double the number of supporters at the Wembley semi-finals and final to 45,000 if Boris Johnson had lifted restrictions on June 21.
With England now joint favourites to win the tournament after beating Croatia
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1-0 on Sunday, it means thousands have potentially been robbed of the chance to see the Three Lions lift a trophy.
Now just 22,500 will be let into the 90,000-capacity
Wembley for the semis and final after Freedom Day was put back to July 19.
Crestfallen fans poured out their hearts online.
One wrote: “Great – what little chance I had to see
England win a cup has now disappeared over the hill.
Sums up a great year.’’
Another said: “Just our luck if we actually won the bloody thing when none of us can watch.’’
A crowd of 22,500 were allowed to attend
England’s opening match after providing proof of full
Covid vaccination or a negative lateral-flow test taken within 48 hours of kick-off.
All the matches are part of a Government research programme looking at methods of minimising social distancing at mass spectator events.
The U-turn will also affect Wimbledon, F1’s British Grand Prix and golf ’s Open Championship.
It now seems certain Wimbledon, which runs for a fortnight from June 28, will also have to operate at a reduced capacity.
The British Grand Prix and Open at Royal St George’s, which both take place before July 19, will also be hit.
Last month R&A boss Martin Slumbers said he hoped the Open would be played in front of a 75% capacity crowd. But he was also preparing for only 25% attendance, which has now become a reality.