Nick Thomas-Symonds responds to identification of the South African variant of coronavirus in London

“The identification of an outbreak of the South African Covid variant in London is deeply worrying.

“This is a clear sign of failure of the UK Government to protect our borders against Covid variants. It’s outrageous that people’s sacrifices over the past year and the progress of the vaccine are being put at risk by the reckless refusal of Ministers secure our borders with a comprehensive hotel quarantine system.”