No 10 prompts outrage with ‘stealth lockdowns’

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing May 26, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Boris Johnson’s government has moved to [head off anger over “confusing” coronavirus guidance](, promising to rewrite new advice against non-essential travel that one local leader warned could put lives at risk. Town halls in eight councils with high levels of the Indian variant of Covid-19 erupted in anger as it emerged that official guidance had been changed on Friday without their knowledge to advise against movements in or out of the areas. Labour branded the measures - affecting almost 2 million people - “local lockdowns by stealth” and called for their immediate withdrawal. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also called on the government to acknowledge it had made a “major communications error” that had thrown doubt over bank holiday get-togethers and sports fixtures as well as half-term school trips and vacations. Officials from the government, NHS and Public Health England struggled all day to assure councils that there were no local lockdowns. Follow the latest coronavirus updates [in our liveblog](. Dominic Cummings is expected to tell MPs that Mr Johnson justified delaying lockdown in the autumn by claiming [“Covid is only killing 80-year-olds”.]( In a highly-anticipated appearance before the Commons technology and health committees the ex-Downing Street aide is expected to reveal the behind-the-scenes details of the government’s response to coronavirus. The alleged comments expected to be attributed to Mr Johnson, reported by ITV News, come after other allegations that the prime minister said he would rather “let the bodies pile high” than call another lockdown - before the second wave took Britain's death toll to over 150,000. But amid scattered reports of what he is expected to say at the committee evidence session, Mr Cumming on Tuesday urged caution, posting on social media: “One way to sift the journalists writing about the inquiry is: if they quote childish military metaphors like ‘grenades’ from supposed ‘allies’, they’re inventing either the quote or the ‘ally’ or probably both.” A report into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party has been [branded a “whitewash”]( after it rejected claims of institutional racism and declined to pass judgement on whether Mr Johnson breached a code of conduct by comparing Muslim women in burqas to “letterboxes”. Tory co-chair Amanda Milling issued an apology after the long-awaited probe branded the party’s complaint handling unfit for purpose and warned “anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem”. Ms Milling accepted all the report’s recommendations and promised an action plan in six weeks’ time, admitting: “It is clear that there have been failings in our complaints process. She apologised to “anyone who has been hurt by discriminatory behaviour of others or failed by our system”. But Professor Swaran Singh’s report failed to satisfy critics, some of whom called for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to launch its own investigation. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Covid vaccinations extended to 30-year-olds in England]( [Influencers offered money to discredit Pfizer vaccine]( [Truss admits to ‘fundamental disagreements’ with LGBT panel]( . . Stories chosen for you - [Brexit disruption saw UK goods trade with EU plunge by 23% in first quarter]( - [Boris Johnson burka comments ‘insensitive to Muslims’, report finds – follow live]( - [Northern Ireland tensions are inevitable consequence of Brexit, EU chief suggests]( - [Government urged to halt e-scooter trials following string of injuries]( - [Durham council to be run by non-Labour administration for first time]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.