| After an unseasonably chilly April, May’s weather looks set to be equally unpredictable. With bucketing rain, howling gales and glorious sunshine all arriving within a single hour, even hanging out the washing feels like a decidedly risky endeavour.
The news agenda seems destined to follow a similar course. From exotic summer holidays to crucial local elections, so much still feels uncertain as we move towards our brave new world - with the next major easing of restrictions in just under two weeks.
In times like these, certainty is a powerful thing. When you have clarity on today’s news, you can plan for tomorrow with confidence. That’s why there’s never been a better time to turn to The Telegraph.
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As a Telegraph subscriber, you’ll be kept expertly informed and prepared as the world reopens. Portugal, Israel and some Greek and Spanish islands have been declared safe for holidays by the Foreign Office, raising hopes that they could be on the travel “green list”. Europe is set to welcome British travellers for the summer, while Liz Truss has said that Boris Johnson is ready to sign off on the UK’s “traffic light” list of destinations imminently. If you’re planning a much-needed getaway, make sure you read our up-to-the-minute guide to the places that are most likely to feature on the holiday “green list”.
On Monday, Boris Johnson stated that there’s a “good chance” that social distancing restrictions will be scrapped on June 21. Yesterday, however, campaigners warned that self-isolation rules are forcing some care home residents to miss their medical appointments. And, while the High Court rejected a bid to bring forward the reopening of indoor hospitality on Monday, a report by government scientists on Tuesday revealed that only 246 Covid-19 outbreaks have been linked to pubs, bars or restaurants.
Ahead of its critical by-election on Thursday, many eyes across Britain are focused on Hartlepool, where the Conservative Party has a 17-point lead in polls. Sir Keir Starmer has already begun damage limitation, but Labour MPs have warned that his leadership is “not cutting through”.
Scotland will also hold its parliamentary elections tomorrow. While the SNP is on course for victory, one leading expert on the party has said that it had been “blessed” with weak opposition. At the same time, polls have shown a drop in support for Scottish independence, while the SNP’s chances of achieving an overall majority are “on a knife-edge”.
Henry Hill makes a particularly persuasive case for why “Keeping the SNP at bay by giving them everything they want is no way to save the Union”. Michael Deacon is typically, brilliantly sharp as he points out that “Sir Keir Starmer is talking as if Labour have already lost”. Tom Harris is balanced and perceptive as he asks “Why can't London elites fathom the electoral shift in the Red Wall?” And Ross Clark is forthright as he asserts that “The mayoralty experiment has been a disaster. Time to abandon it”.
Allison Pearson is simply unmissable as she draws on real-life experiences to comment that “There’s a reason you’ve not seen your GP recently – and frankly it’s a scandal”. Charles Moore is frank as he argues that “The doctrine of Net Zero will make mugs of us all”. Jeremy Warner adroitly writes that “Boris should forget the levelling up agenda”. Suzanne Moore, meanwhile, provides a compelling perspective as to why “The new working world is a luxury not all can afford”.
Elsewhere, Bill and Melinda Gates have announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage. We’ll explain why the 105bn settlement could be the most expensive ever. In royal news, the Duchess of Sussex is to publish a children’s book, based on her husband’s relationship with their son, Archie. And in Family, Katie Russell reveals “The harsh realities of dating as a single mum – and how to get back out there”.
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