Advertisement

UK Covid LIVE: Cheers! Londoners toast new freedoms as lockdown lifts amid travel row

<p>People enjoying a drink at The Forester pub in Ealing on Monday evening</p> (AP)

People enjoying a drink at The Forester pub in Ealing on Monday evening

(AP)

Thousands of Londoners raised a glass with friends and colleagues on Monday evening as indoor pubs and restaurants welcomed back customers for the first time in months.

Hugs and holidays are also back on as England comes further out of lockdown.

The easing of restrictions, the third in a four step process out of lockdown, means people can socialise indoors, go to gym classes, and go on overseas holidays - to green list locations. Londoners have headed to the gym, and to the pub, to celebrate their new found freedoms.

However, Matt Hancock found himself at the centre of a political row as Tory MPs criticised his warning that holidays should be off the table for countries on the UK’s amber travel list.

His comments came against the backdrop of concerns over the Indian variant.

Follow all the latest updates below

Read More

Indian variant to become dominant ‘within days’ as 37yo offered jab

Coronavirus case rates on the rise in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and Midlothian

UK sees five more Covid deaths as nearly 2,000 test positive