We need a clear road map to ensure our country is free from restrictions

The vaccination rollout to the top four at-risk groups seems to be going well, and the Government should get the credit it deserves for having been quick out of the blocks. It is a sprint, not a marathon, as we seek to give the maximum number of vulnerable people the greatest possible protection as soon as we can.

More than 3.5million UK residents have received at least their first dose, equipping the vulnerable with a shield from Covid and getting the country ever closer to normal.

It is welcome that the Government is being transparent with daily vaccination numbers published, with regional breakdowns. The focus and drive would be improved if the Government published the numbers for each local NHS area. That would ensure progress would be maintained, at pace, across our United Kingdom. The Government must now urgently show how the vaccine rollout translates into a return to normal life.

The top four at-risk groups, which the Government aims to have given a first dose by Feb 15, will have got the maximum immunity from that within three weeks – by March 8. That has got to be the point at which we start to lift restrictions in a way proportionate to the reduction of risk. The top four at-risk groups account for about 88 per cent of deaths and about 55 per cent of hospitalisations from Covid – that gives us a guide to the reduction in risk and therefore a road map to the rollback of restrictions.

Nobody is expecting nightclub doors to be flung open on March 8

– it’s obvious that not every restriction can be lifted straight away. The Prime Minister’s characterisation of a “gradual unwrapping” is not a bad way of putting it. Preliminary data from Israel’s successful, world-beating vaccine rollout has demonstrated that the vaccine has performed as expected from trials – curbing infections by some 50 per cent 14 days after the first of two doses have been administered. Meanwhile, back in the UK, children are missing out on an education, damaging their futures. People need hope and businesses need a plan in order to survive, especially those in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors.

That’s why this week, we need a draft plan for the progressive lifting of restrictions from March 8 so that the public, businesses and scientists can use it as the basis for a sensible debate, as the Prime Minister suggested on Friday. That will allow a definitive plan to be published ahead of Feb 15.

It is unacceptable that businesses across our country are being asked to plan for their survival on the vague notion of “it will all be fine by the spring”. In the real world, spring actually lasts until June, but in the political world it has been known to last a lot longer.

There cannot be any more excuses and there’s no need to wait until Easter. We need a clear road map to all our freedoms, economy and health prospects being fully restored.