On Monday evening the Prime Minister confirmed that the lifting of all legal restrictions on social contact, originally scheduled for 21 June, would be delayed until 19 July.

The Prime Minister said that the extension would give the NHS crucial weeks to vaccinate the maximum number of people. He said that, by Monday 19 July, the aim will be  to have given two doses of vaccine to around two thirds of the adult population - including everyone over 50 and all the frontline health and care workers - and for every adult to have received at least one dose by the same date.

You can read the Prime Minister's statement in full here.

In response to the Prime Minister's announcement, London Councils' Chair, Cllr Georgia Gould said: “The latest announcement of a delay to the final step in the roadmap will be a disappointment for many, but we need to use this extra time to get everyone vaccinated so we can reopen knowing that our communities are protected from the virus.

“If you are aged 23 and over, please have your vaccine as soon as you can - it is free, safe and easy. There are several ways to get vaccinated - you can book an appointment online, attend large scale vaccination events or attend a walk-in clinic where you do not need to book. Contact your local borough or NHS for details of what is available near you. If you have questions about the vaccine, speak to your GP or another medical professional.

“We must also continue to remember the basics – wearing a mask in busy and indoor spaces, washing our hands frequently and getting tested regularly.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. Thank you to all Londoners for the strength and kindness you’ve shown in looking after one another throughout the pandemic. Although the delay in the complete lifting of restrictions is not the news we wanted, it is especially important we look out for one another in these final weeks.”

London Councils is calling on the government to ensure councils can deliver vital local services and support businesses struggling to survive in this final push before restrictions end. Our asks include:

• Extending the 100 per cent business rates holiday and the business evictions moratorium beyond the end of June.

• Confirming a short-term extension to the existing furlough scheme, with employers not having to contribute more to the scheme from next month as previously planned

• Urgent confirmation of the funding allocation and guidance for the additional £1.5bn business rates relief announced in March for supply chains and other in-directly impacted firms.  

• An additional targeted one-off grant to directly impacted firms, such as those in the hospitality and culture and creative sectors, and ensuring that boroughs receive their Additional Restrictions Grant top-ups quickly to ensure that they can make uninterrupted discretionary payments to firms.

The government last week announced changes to the National Transfer Scheme, which shares out responsibility for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) across local authorities.

Responding to the announcement, London Councils’ Executive Member for Schools and Children’s Services, Cllr Damian White, said: “London boroughs have a long and proud history of looking after vulnerable children fleeing difficult and traumatic circumstances.

“We are pleased that the government's announcement recognises the need for more funding in this area. This is an important improvement in the overall package of support. We will take time to understand the extent to which it meets all the cost to boroughs, so that we are able to provide quality care and support for children and young people.

“We are concerned that the scheme is still on a voluntary basis. The previous voluntary scheme did not succeed in creating a fair and equitable national process, putting significant pressure on many councils – in particular, but not solely, in areas where UASC are most likely to present themselves, including several London boroughs. There is an urgent need for the new scheme to show that it can work.

“We will continue to ask the Home Office and the Department for Education to work with councils across the country to help us deliver high quality care for UASC.”

London Councils Executive Member for Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion, Cllr Muhammed Butt will be among the speakers at a special 'Beyond the Data: One Year On' event on Tuesday 22 June (16:30 - 18:30).

The event marks one year since the publication of

‘Beyond the Data: Understanding the impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups’.

Other speakers on the panel will include: Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for Public Health England London; Vicky Hobart, Head of Health, Greater London Authority; Jane Clegg, Joint Regional Chief Nurse, London NHS England; and Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director, UCL Institute of Health Equity.

If you would like to attend the event you can register your interest here.