MATT Hancock will give a coronavirus press conference at 5pm as ministers wrestle with the Indian variant.
The Health Secretary will speak from Downing Street as the Government also comes under fire on its confusing border and holidays policy.
Yesterday the PM came out to try and calm fears over the June 21 opening, saying we don’t yet have the data to make any firm calls.
Officials will get more information in the next few days about whether the new variant is causing too much concern – which could put the roadmap at risk.
The PM will first face PMQs in the House of Commons where he will likely get a testy grilling from MPs over the variant, and his plans to keep it at bay.
At the moment ministers are pushing extra vaccines into hotspot areas and surge testing as many people as possible to try and crack down on the variant.
But ministers haven’t ruled out taking tougher measures locally.
And No10 haven’t slapped down suggestions it may return a form of the hated tiers system too.
It came as:
- Bolton’s Tory council leader warned the town could be hit by riots if ministers try to impose a local lockdown in the area
David Greenhalgh said there are fears locals will take the streets in protest at any new move to shut pubs and shops.
He is said to have personally warned the Health Secretary about the danger in a frosty phone call yesterday.
