Is Boris right to delay the lockdown easing?

It now seems likely that freedom day is going to involve rather less freedom than everyone had hoped. Later today, Boris Johnson is expected to announce that the 21 June easing of lockdown will be delayed by up to four weeks, until every adult has been offered at least one vaccine by the end of next month. The delays mean that nightclubs will stay closed and work from home guidance will remain in place – although the 30-person limit on wedding guests is expected to be lifted and there will be more outdoor events allowed to take place.

The abrupt change to the lockdown easing plan comes as the Indian (or Delta) variant sweeps across Britain. But is it the right course of action to delay the lockdown lifting, when so many have already been vaccinated and so many livelihoods are at stake?

Our writers have been following the 21 June debate in intense detail here at The Spectator – below is all our coverage on the costs and benefits of delaying freedom day.