Covid Infections Are Rising But It's Unlikely Johnson Has Learnt From His Mistakes

To say that Boris Johnson has enough on his plate after his brief holiday in Spain is an understatement. He’s trying to set out a convincing “net zero” strategy, while putting pressure on foot-dragging nations to make detailed commitments at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, which is only 12 days away.

- Andrew Grice

There are also real tensions to be resolved between him and Rishi Sunak ahead of next week’s Budget and government-wide spending review. Daily updates on the supply chain issues threatening the post-pandemic economic bounce-back. The unwanted, unexpected and painful task of speaking for the nation after the murder of David Amess – and urgent questions over the Prevent deradicalisation programme and social media regulation.

Another pressing issue is moving up the prime minister’s in-tray – the rise in new coronavirus infections, currently averaging 43,079 a day and at their highest level since lockdown. Cases are doubling every five weeks and this “exponential curve” is the warning sign the government’s scientific advisers watch most closely.

The UK is paying the price of its early success with its vaccination programme because the protection offered by the first two jabs is waning. Other European countries have overtaken the UK in the vaccination league table after catching up and immunising teenagers earlier.