British ministers are pushing on with a major easing of restrictions on Monday despite concerns over the variant first detected in India, as they were criticised for allowing the strain's import.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was sticking by plans to allow mixing indoors and greater physical contact in England as scientists warned the strain could be 50% more transmissible than the variety detected in Kent.
Health minister Edward Argar said the Government was acting "coolly" and "calmly" in carrying on with step three in the road map to ending lockdown restrictions.
However, the British Medical Association said the move is a "real worry" while many are still awaiting vaccination. Mr Argar was also forced to defend border restrictions, saying