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UK Covid LIVE: Boris and Starmer in PMQs clash over Freedom Day delay amid fears over Pfizer jab shortage

By Evening Standard

Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer have clashed in the Commons over the four-week delay to so-called Freedom Day ahead of a planned vote on the extension of Covid restrictions in England until July 19.

At a stormy PMQs, the Labour leader said the Prime Minister's “indecision” at the borders had “blown it" as far as sticking to the original June 21 reopening plan - to which Mr Johnson shouted "rubbish".

It comes as shortages of Covid vaccines have forced the NHS to slow the rollout of jabs despite the Prime Minister saying a four-week delay to full reopening was to allow for the programme to ramp up. Just 1.2 million first doses were dispensed in the last week, compared with more than three million a week near the start of the programme.

On Tuesday, the head of the NHS said there were limited supplies of Pfizer, the main vaccine offered to anyone under 40. London health officials are understood to have requested 367,000 extra Pfizer and Moderna doses.