The scheduled lifting of all coronavirus restrictions on 21 June has been the subject of fierce debate this week as infection rates rise across the UK.
Although Monday saw the UK record zero Covid deaths for the first time in 453 days, government advisers and Tory MPs have been clashing over whether next month’s so-called Freedom Day should be delayed as the delta variant of coronavirus (formerly known as the Indian variant) continues to spread.
No official announcement has been made about whether the planning relaxation of restrictions will go ahead, but the government has reduced the number of countries on the UK’s travel green list. Destinations axed from the line-up of quarantine-free getaway options include Portugal - prompting anger and disappointment from holidaymakers and travel bosses following a surge in bookings for the popular travel spot.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
To find out how closely you’ve been paying attention to the latest developments in the pandemic, and other global events, put your knowledge to the test with our Quiz of The Week:
As the nation awaits a decision from the government on next month’s lockdown lifting, a group of Tory rebels have created a further headache for No. 10 by tabling an amendment bill to reverse planned aid cuts.
Meanwhile, Keir Stamer showed his human side in an interview with Piers Morgan during which the Labour leader held back tears as he spoke about his mother, who died just weeks before he first became an MP. Morgan described their chat, screened on ITV, as “one of the most searingly honest and intensely emotional interviews I’ve ever done”.
On the world stage, an ideologically diverse group of Israeli opposition parties agreed a coalition deal that clears the way for the ousting from power of the country’s longest-serving leader, Benjamin Netanyahu.
It’s been a big week for Big Oil too, with a group of climate activists elected to the board of an industry giant. With scientists calling for tougher measures to tackle climate change, green issues will also be high on the agenda at the G7 summit in Cornwall next week, as world leaders try to resolve their differences on eco issues ahead of COP26 in Glasgow in November.
