You can tell the Indian variant of Covid is a concern: Matt Hancock is being wheeled out again
When the prime minister stood up in February and unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown for England, he promised it would be “cautious but irreversible” – your clearest indication that it would at some point feature a signature lack of caution, which in turn could herald some truly incendiary reversals.
While we settle in for a couple of feverish weeks awaiting the data on the Indian variant, a recap. Yesterday, on the very day people were allowed back inside the pubs, they were already being told not to get drunk in them, and strongly encouraged to remain outside enjoying May’s seasonal charms. (I’ll have a pint of lager with a hailstone top, please.) Yesterday, on the very day people were permitted to travel again – with countries arranged into green, amber and red lists, as long advertised – Matt Hancock explained that people should definitely not travel to amber list countries. Then why are they permitted to? Is our travel policy some kind of dare?
