Top story: Downing Street says matches will go ahead as planned Good morning, Graham Russell here to welcome you to today’s briefing. Concerns have been raised about the safety of the later stages of Euro 2020 and other major sporting events after it emerged almost 1,300 Scotland fans have tested positive for Covid after travelling to London for the match against England. Opening games up to 60,000 fans “send a message to 60 million fans at home that the danger has gone away” and could “create the potential for spreader events in virtually every household”, warned Prof Stephen Reicher, a member of the Sage subcommittee advising the government. The Euro 2020 final and semi-finals are to be held at Wembley. The news came as 26,068 positive test results were reported across the UK on Wednesday, with 3,887 in Scotland – the highest daily total north of the border since the start of the pandemic. Downing Street said it would study the data but that the remaining Euro 2020 matches would go ahead as planned. In vaccine news, some GPs are administering second jabs up to nine weeks earlier than the official NHS advice, and giving them to 16-year-olds, prompting concern about a postcode lottery. Doctors say their unofficial and “pragmatic” policy is boosting the immunisation drive. There are also calls to expand the list of official Covid symptoms, amid concerns cases are being missed. The UK lists only three symptoms for Covid, while the US has 11, and the World Health Organization 13. The man who was filmed manhandling Chris Witty has apologised and says he has lost his job over the incident. “If I made him feel uncomfortable, which it does look like I did, then I am sorry to him for that,” said Lewis Hughes, claiming he would have let go of the “shy” chief medical officer if he had asked him to. * * * Trump Org charges – Criminal charges have reportedly been laid against Donald Trump’s company after a three-year investigation. The Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, face tax-related offences, which remain sealed but are expected to involve alleged violations related to benefits for top executives, possibly including use of apartments, cars and school tuition, people familiar with the case said. No charges are expected to be brought against Trump personally, though separate, unrelated investigations are under way in New York. * * * EU citizens unsettled – Home Office helplines for EU citizens applying to remain in the UK were reportedly jammed last night in the minutes before the midnight deadline. At two minutes to midnight, the Home Office was showing a 44-minute queue, though the Home Office said it was allowing those in the queue before midnight to continue with their application. It came after rights watchdog the Independent Monitoring Authority warned of reports workers were being threatened with the sack or being removed from housing waiting lists if they did not know their status by tomorrow. * * * ‘I am furious’ – The surprise overturning of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction has caused outcry, with figures including E Jean Carroll saying the move would deter women from coming forward in future. Cosby’s trial, held after more than 50 women came forward with stories of being drugged and assaulted by the comedian, was the first significant celebrity conviction of the #MeToo era. The organisation Women in Film said: “Today’s news is a setback in the fight for justice for sexual assault survivors.” A court in Pennsylvania ruled a previous prosecutor had struck a “non-prosecution agreement” with Cosby, and so he should not have been charged. The court also barred a retrial. * * * Batley and Spen – Voters go to the polls today in a closely watched byelection that could have repercussions for Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour party. The leader’s spokesman yesterday played down the prospect of a victory by saying it “has always been a marginal seat”. There are concerns George Galloway could attract enough votes to allow the Conservatives to scrape home. Nevertheless, another defeat would be greeted with horror by Labour MPs in potentially vulnerable red wall seats. * * * Diana statue – Princes William and Harry will appear side by side today to unveil a statue of their mother at Kensington Palace in what is expected to be “a very personal moment for the family”. A small ceremony will be held on what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday in the Sunken Garden, one of her favourite spots at her former home. Five gardeners have spent 1,000 hours and planted more than 4,000 flowers to get the “calming” spot ready. | 