British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he aims to cautiously ease coronavirus restrictions in an "irreversible" manner, but conceded he cannot offer a "cast iron guarantee" that England's third national lockdown will be its last.
The Prime Minister welcomed an "unprecedented national achievement" of vaccinating 15 million of the most vulnerable people in the UK ahead of the target deadline today.
But he said that now is "no moment to relax" as ministers review coronavirus restrictions in England, while lockdown-sceptical Tory MPs press for a swift reopening.
Mr Johnson said there are "grounds for confidence" that vaccinations reduce Covid-19's spread, but said they are awaiting the "hard facts" before setting out the timetable for