Will Rishi Sunak lose his battle to avoid winter lockdown?

The chancellor is opposed to the return of ‘economic restrictions’ – but government advisers are now pushing for steps to curb the Covid surge. Adam Forrest takes a look at the battle ahead

Chancellor Rishi Sunak (PA Wire)

There is a wearily familiar pattern to Boris Johnson’s public statements during the Covid crisis. The prime minister tells us he hopes there will be no need for a lockdown, then belatedly bows to the data and announces another round of restrictions.

Will the same cycle play out during a fourth wave this winter? The astute political commentator Gary Neville is in little doubt about what happens next.

After the prime minister claimed there was “nothing to indicate” a winter lockdown would be necessary, the Sky Sports pundit tweeted: “The clearest indication yet a lockdown is on its way.”