The Sun UK October 21 2020

64 Pages·2020·77.86 MB·English

MEET OUR
STAR SIGNING
I fixed
my life...
and never
looked
» back

- PAGES
16 & 17

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TROY DEENEY JOINS: Sun

FOOD ADDI DICT’S ORDEAL

oot n,
s lifte dfrom fla t
Wednesday, October 21, 2020

BOOZING CHECKS ON EX-CONS

ALCOHOL RAP LAGS
GET SOBRIETY TAGS

EU's veg
food ban

VEGGIE burgers and
vegan sausages could be
banned by Brussels.

The EU Parliament is
voting on rules to bar
meat-inspired names.

Burgers could become
“veggie discs” and sau-
sages “vegan tubes”.

Critics called it a waste
of time and money.

But it is supported by
the meat industry.

Nick Allen, of the Brit-
ish Meat Processors Asso-
ciation said: “I think
they're deliberately mis-
leading the consumer.”

The Sun Says — Page 12

OFFENDERS convicted
of booze-fuelled crimes
are to be fitted with
sobriety tags when free
to stop them drinking.

The devices check sweat

By MATT DATHAN

offenders face fines or being
thrown back in jail.

The sobriety tags will come
into force from today in Wales
and will be extended to
England early next year.

every 30

Monitor .. . booze tag bids caught

Pawsot

Hopes ... Ms Truss

Push for
dealon }
US trade > —

By MATT DATHAN

BRITAIN turned the
screw on the EU yester-

day by announcing it was
stepping up trade talks
with the US.

Trade Secretary Liz

Truss said the UK
wanted to be “in a good
position to move forward”
after the US election.

She added: “We want a
deal that delivers for all
parts (of the UK).”

Nol0 hopes that
advancing talks with the
US will further soften
the EU’s approach.

It comes after PM Boris
Johnson’s tough stance
last week triggered a
shift in the EU’s position.

EU chief negotiator
Michel Barnier acknowl-
edged that the EU was

ready to “intensify talks”.
The PM is leaving
Brussels stewing by

demanding it first offers
fresh concessions.

minutes
alert probation officials if
any alcohol is consumed. out of
breaking drink
of up to 120 days, the

and

and domestic

They are designed to tackle
a rise in drink-fuelled crimes,
with booze a factor
ten violent
such as attacks on strangers
abuse.

in four
offences

The

social and economic cost of
alcohol-related crime is
estimated to be more than
£2lbillion a year.

Crime and Pol: g Minister
Kit Malthouse said: “All too
often we see the devastating
effects of alcohol-fuelled
behaviour, reckless crimes and
casual violence which blight
our neighbourhoods and the
lives of too many victims.

“This proven new tool can
break the self-destructive

Hadley,

Herts,

me Kes

—

A DOG was treated to a party after |

radiotherapy for a brain tumour.
Blind golden retriever Claude,

nine, was the first to get the treatment,

left, at a vet school in Edinburgh. L
Owner Anita Greenfield, pictured, of jx

“Now we're just
hoping that Claude gets more time.”

said:

wild

elections

mission”
and UK

hackers

cal

UNION

aged f

Labour

classy, Len. Pretty disgusted by
his language.”
The Sun Says —

He said:
the Brits in their election, they {
are helping with our election.”

Meanwhile,

postponed Tokyo Olympics \
after its athletes were
barred over doping.

sparked an
telling
to “go into

anti-Semitism
Labour grandee Peter Mandelson
a room and count his gold”.
The _hard-left
apologise for using the
ex-minister, whose dad was Jewish.
McCluskey blasted Mandelson on
Newsnight, saying:
gest that Peter just goes into a
room and counts his
not worry about what’s
ing in the Labour Party.”
The national

cycle that offenders end up in
helping them sober up if
they choose to and the courts
to punish those who don't.”
The scheme follows success-
ful pilots in London and
across Humberside, Lincoln-
shire and North Yorkshire.
Offenders were alcohol-free
on over 97 per cent of days
monitored. Tag wearers also
reported a positive impact on
their wellbeing and behaviour.
[email protected]

UK SPIES IN
i POLL GUARD

BRITISH spies are helping to protect the US

from Russian cyber meddling.

The online trolls of President Putin, below,
are “pulling out the stops,
US Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command warned.

Vice Admiral Ross Myers told a_ security
conference on board aircraft carrier HMS
Queen Elizabeth his “number one «

was election security @
allies were assisting. y
“We've worked with |

Russia denied its

targeted this year’s

boss Len McCluskey

storm last night by

Corbynite was
“trope”

“I would sug-

old and |
appen- (=

chair of Jewish

Mike Katz said: “Stay

Page 12

” the head of the

>»,

Se

forced
about the

PM cash
bid axed

BORIS Johnson has been
forced to rip up_ his
three-year spending plans
due to the Covid crisis.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak
told the PM a Compre-
hensive Spending Review
would be impossible after
the chaos the pandemic
wreaked on finances.
The Government has
already spent more than
£200billion on _ bailouts
since March — but that is
expected to double.
There are, however,
expected to be exceptions
for reviews of health and
defence spending.

CORRECTIONS &
CLARIFICATIONS

THE Sun aims to have the

standards and

the rules in

Editors’ Code of Practice.
The Sun is a member of
the Independent Press
‘Standards
make a complaint to us go
to wwwthesun.co.uk/ipso, email
[email protected],
or write to Editorial Complaints,
The Sun, 1 London Bridge

Street, London SE! 9GF.

(050) ald

1m in free
meal call

NEARLY one __ million
children in harsh lock-
down will be denied free
school meals during the
holidays, statistics reveal.
The needy kids are in
Tier 2 and 3 Covid areas.
The figures emerged as
MPs today vote on
England footballer Marcus
Rashford’s bid to extend
free school meals over
half-term and Christmas.
Downing Street insists
there are no plans for
further direct support
after aid was given when
schools were shut at the
height of the pandemic.

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SOUTHAM PTON

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WEATHER with

TODAY: Rain in England and
Wales. Patchy rain in Scotland and
Northern Ireland but bright spells
in the Isle of Man and south-east
Scotland. Further outbreaks of rain
for many in the afternoon.
TONIGHT: Clear spells and
showers across England and
Wales. Scotland overcast with
outbreaks of rain. Northern Ireland
(Ott A brisk north-westerly breeze
will develop for many regions.
OUTLOOK: Tomorrow will be

© ve dry with sunny spells after
early showers in England and
Wales. Scotland and Northern
Ireland cloudy. Friday unsettled as
rain spreads south-eastwards.

NAZANEEN GHAFFAR

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We are always after good stories - and we
pay big money for them every day. Call our
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Today’s

birthdays
REALITY TV star KIM
KARDASHIAN, /eft, 40,
designer JADE JAGGER,
right, 49, former East 17
star TONY MORTIMER,
50, and ex-Man Utd player
PAUL INCE, 53.
@Last night’s Health
Lottery numbers: 8, 9, 12,
22, 44. Bonus ball: 37.
EuroMillions: 5, 6, 15, 37,
42. Lucky Stars: 3, 4.
"i

1GM

eae MON PDAS

—
Picture: ALISON WEBSTER

TIGER STAR: I'M BI

TIGER King star Carole Baskin has
come out as bisexual and “could just
as easily have a wife as a husband”.

The Big Cat Rescue CEO, 59, said
growing up she felt she was “probably
born into the wrong body” and first

felt a connection to the LGBT commu-
nity in the 1980s. The Netflix star wed
for the second time in_ 2004.

She was married to Don Lewis from
1991 to 2002, when he was declared
legally dead after disappearing in 1997.

Pe

By SOPHIE DONOVAN

SAM Smalling crosses her
heart and promises to make
her footballer husband happy
with her diet suggestions.

The vegan glamour model,
34 — wed to Roma defender
Chris Smalling, 30 — regu-
larly posts pics on Instagram
of recipes she has created.

Ex-Man United star Chris,
inset, is vegan too after enjoy-
ing her food so much.

But he’s not one to make a
meal of it..

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

CLUSIVE

3

NUMB
NUTS
FRED!

Host: My willy hell
after 3-day bike ride

By JOE KASPER ricky wicket
+ Fred

Bizarre Reporter
CRICKET legend al
Freddie Flintoff had
to see the doctor
after his willy went
numb on a marathon

charity bike ride.

The Top Gear host, 42,
said he lost all feeling
in his todger three days

into the trip from
Athens to London.
A few days later, fearful

Freddie saw the medic trav-
elling with him and rugby’s
Lawrence Dallaglio as he
was still frozen down below.

He said: “It just suddenly
went numb, as if I'd
trapped it in a door. It was
like a dead fish

“I said to the medic, ‘Doc,
I’m afraid you're going to
have to have a look at my
old fella, I can't feel it’.

“He took a look and was
quite blasé, ‘Oh, that’s quite
common in cyclists.’ I was
quite taken aback.

“Apparently, it was to do
with something called the
penile nerve. The old fella
only started to resurrect
itself about three days after
I arrived in London.”

In his new book, Right,
Said Fred, Flintoff also
admitted he gets embar-
rassed cycling in Lycra
because it “doesn’t leave a
lot to the imagination”.

The former England cap-
tain and Lancashire hero —
real name Andrew — said: “I
feel like I’m exposing myself
in front of women, children
. Nobody needs to

He and retired Dallaglio,
48, raised £2million on the
2,872-mile Cycle Slam

Pack: in foe
or} anised. the It felt like
I’d done the
Sore de France!

ride, which

took them
26 days.

joe.kasper

@thesun.

co.uk
Wednesday, October 21, 2020

EXCLUSIVE by BEN LEO
and DANIEL HAMMOND

DESPERATE Jason Holton
last night tearfully told
how his addiction to fast
food apps saw him become

Britain’s fattest man at 30.

He revealed how regularly
eating two takeaway meals a
day — chased down with his
favourite Pop Tarts — saw him
balloon from 25st in 2014 to
more than 50st now.

Jason ordered kebabs and chips
and Chinese meals directly to his
door through apps — _ spending
around £10,000 a year.

He would also have _ chocolate,
crisps, sandwiches and fizzy drink
in 10,000-calorie eating marathons.

It finally resulted in him having
to be hoisted out of his third-floor
bedroom by a huge crane so that
doctors could treat him.

In an emotional interview from
his hospital bed, Jason told The
Sun: “I had eaten to a point where
I suddenly couldn’t move an inch.

“And I was happy to stay there
without calling for help.

“I left myself to die and waited
for my heart to give up. I felt there
was nothing left in life for me.”

But he eventually called the emer-
gency services and was removed
rom his two-bed maisonette —
where his condition had trapped
him for more than five years.

A giant crane was needed to lift
him out in an operation that took
seven hours earlier this month.

Rescuers had to remove his bed-
room window in Camberley, Surrey,
so he could be squeezed out.

More than 30 firemen lined the
street outside a row of shops Jason
lives above with his mum.

Structural engineers erected
acrow props on the floor below
over fears the ceiling would col-
lapse if Jason fell.

He said: “It was amazing because
it was the first time in six years
I’d_ experienced fresh air.

“I was given codeine to take

the pain from the crane
straps, but all I remember is the
breath of fresh air and the breeze
rushing over my body.

“There was a risk I wouldn't sur-
vive the lift. There were issues with
my oxygen levels but I told my res-
cuers to go ahead — or else I'd
only end up dying inside my flat.”

Jason, who is classed as super-
obese, was taken to hospital in a
specialist ambulance to be treated
for Lymphoedema in his groin and
legs — a chronic condition that
causes water retention and swelling.

His doting mum and carer Leisa,
52, said of her only child: “I fear
for him and I fear losing him.

“Doctors have said he won't last
another five years. He'll end up
having a heart attack.”

Jason, who was always “a big
lad”, said his situation took a dire
turn in 2014, when he signed up to
home-delivery takeaway service
JustEat. He then spent around £30
a day on takeaways — a habit that
cost around £10,000 a year.

He explained: “I was using my
debit card to order food. I’d buy a
mixture of takeaways, mainly kebab
meat and chips, sometimes Chinese.

50-5

Jason say:

Then I’d wash it down with litres
of orange juice and Diet Coke —
and snack on _ sandwiches and
treats until the early hours.

“My bank statements were a joke.

“Iwas considered for gastric
band surgery during that time but
the NHS turned me down and told
my mum to rip up my debit card.”

Jason became Britain’s fattest
man after 65st Carl Thompson, 33,
of Dover, Kent, died in 2015.

Jason survives on benefits and has
never worked. He receives £197.60 a

2GM

TONE MAN’S S10K-A-

LISED

Jason tells of his trauma.
as he gets medical help

I was trapped in
my flat for more
than five years

s he has always struggled with his weight

week Employment Support Allow-
ance and £112.80 a week Personal
Independence Payment (PIP). His
mum also receives a £200 a month
council tax reduction support.
Jason told how his struggles with
anxiety, compounded by his weight,
made applying for a job impossible.
He said: “I’ve never managed to
work. It’s tough in my state.
“There was one time when I was
going to apply for some weekend
stuff but I decided against it
because I knew deep down my

Much-needed support from his uncle Ray Holton

mental and physical health wouldn't
hack it. I'd get too nervous and
walk out.”

Recalling his “happier” childhood,
Jason said: “I went to normal
schools and always attended.

“I was fat but I never shied away.
I wasn’t very clever and needed
help with the curriculum so
decided not to sit my GCSEs.

“Even though I was overweight, I
was always out doing things, hav-
ing a laugh and being active.

“Mum would cook me _ lovely

meals at home and I never remem-
ber her having any takeaways or
junk on my plate.

“But I used to be cheeky and get
takeaways outside the house after
eating — something quick like a
baguette with meat and mayonnaise
and stuff in it from the bakery.”

At one stage he went to a nine-
week fat camp in New Jersey, US,
and managed to lose a few stone.

But Jason said sadly: “As I’ve got
older, life has got more difficult for
me and the light in my life has
YEAR FOOD ADDICTI

faded. I suppose eating has always
brought me comfort, but it’s just
got out of control.”

Leisa added: “Eating too much is
just like any other addiction.

“Jason's situation is worse because
he suffers with water retention and
problems with blood pressure that
aren't brought on by his obesity.

“His situation has affected me
too. I’m very stressed and worried
about my boy and any help we
were getting from carers has now
stopped because of the coronavirus

pandemic.” Jason is now urging the
Government to do more to protect
the health of the nation — including
limiting the number of takeaways a
service can deliver to somebody’s

home over a certain time period.
He concluded: “I take _ self-
responsibility for my situation but
if it wasn’t for food delivery apps,
I'd never be as bad as I am now.”
ear a story? RING The Sun on
020 7782 4104, WHATSAPP 07423
720250 or EMAIL exclusive@
the-sun.co.uk

=

asers

CIRCLE OF WOE

THE lack of mobility when someone
is so large becomes a vicious circle.
It can lead to wors i lymphoe-
dema and further weight gain.
Untreated, it becomes increasingly
uncomfortable. As well as a heavy
ache, the skin feels tight and hard.
Folds develop and skin infections
easily set in. Physio and special

B
CAROL COOPER

compression garments can improve
lymph drainage. There’s no cure —
but healthy eating could prevent it
in the first place.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

ON

CRANE RESCUE

Fire crews lift Jason fi =

5

flat in seven-hour. 1

@ Large doner and chips, no
pitta, no salad, no sauce from
local kebab shop. .

=—

@ lf hungry will order an oO
extra regular portion nF
of doner meat ai

@ Pop Tarts chaser

@Three large tubs of chicken
chow mein, prawn crackers
and prawn toast from
Chinese takeaway 4 a

@ Pop Tarts chaser

EVENING | 4

@ Two cheese sandwiches, two
chocolate bars, three packs

a De
©1.5 litres of pure orange juice
a day, five cans of Diet Coke
6 Wednesday, October 21, 2020

BEAST ON PROWL NEAR

CHICKEN-:ROYALE;-WILLS Es

Duke of Cambridge eyes up KFC at Waterloo Station

KATE THES
SPIDERFAN

A SUPER somersault snap
of Spider-Man is among
100 of life in lockdown to
get royal approval.

The photographs, which
were chosen by the Duch-
ess of Cambridge, are on
display across the country.

Kate, in red Alexander
McQueen coat and black
heels, and Prince William
yesterday visited six of the
billboard sites in London.

But Wills, 38, seemed
more interested in a KFC
at Waterloo station.

He waved at customers
enjoying fried chicken.

Kate, 38, launched the
Hold Still project in May.

She got more than
31,000 entries and 100
have been chosen for the

By MATT WILKINSON

exhibition. The Spider-Man
image was taken by Jason
Baird of pal Andrew Bal-
dock in Stockport, Greater
Manchester.

Sami Massalami Moham-
med Elmassalami Ayad, a
volunteer at a food hub in
Hackney, East London, fea-
tures in one portrait.

He said: “The Duchess
came across as_ really
caring and dedicated. |
was so impressed she took
the time to call me.”

Kate and Wills also
praised St Bart’s Hospital
staff whose photo shows
smiley faces and_ love
hearts scrawled on dispos-
able PPE aprons.

Flipping great . . . Spider-M:

—_ =
entertains in Stockport

EXCLUSIVE by GRANT HODGSON

HARRY and Meghan have
been warned a wild bear
has been spotted prowling
near their £11million Cali-

fornia mansion.

It has been filmed by security
cameras and neighbours have
had chickens attacked and
rubbish bins raided.

The black bear is believed to have
a den in a nearby ranch, which was
disturbed when it was sold recently.
Experts say it is looking for food
and poses a serious risk.

The Sussexes and baby son
Archie moved into their nine-
bedroom, 16-bathroom pad in the
wealthy community of Montecito in
early July.

Soon afterwards, a large black
bear was reported yards from chat
show queen Oprah Winfrey’s
sprawling estate.

Now it appears to be back — with
the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife blaming the smells
from the number of chicken coops.

Spokesman Tim Daly said: “It’s
not like they can’t afford fresh eggs
but for some reason the folks there
think they need a chicken coop and
that’s what’s attracting the bear.”

The Montecito Association sent an
email to residents — including Ellen
DeGeneres and Rob Lowe — saying:
“The bear likely lives in Ranchos
San Carlos, which recently sold.

“There may be new activity on
the ranch that is disturbing the
bear and setting it off into the
community.

“This could be a bad outcome for
that bear, unfortunately, and is
dangerous for neighbors.

“The sheriffs are contacting Fish
and Wildlife to put a humane trap
for the animal so it can be safely
relocated.”

Black bears weigh up to 39st.
Fatal attacks on humans are rare
in the US but in June a 19-year-old
was attacked in her backyard in
Sierra Madre, north of Los Angeles.
A homeless man was attacked in
the area last year.

Mr Daly added: “We started get-
ting a cluster of calls about a bear
in Montecito in July and we've had
some further calls about it this
week. We're hoping it will make its
own way out of the area.

“Bears are attracted to strong
odours so we're advising residents
to seal their trash and clean their
barbecues.

“Bears shouldn't be confronted
and they want to see an escape
route, too. Don’t make eye contact
with them and don’t run.”

The Duke and Duchess — who
have signed a Netflix deal worth a
reported £112million — have been
hosting video chats from their new

home. Harry, 36, said during a call
to mark rugby league’s 125th anni-
versary he was “loving it” in the
US and added: “It’s fantastic.”

In another call Meghan told femi-
nist Gloria Steinem she was happy
for “so many reasons” to be back
in the state where she grew up.

In an interview with The 19th, a
news service dedicated to empower-
ing women, Meghan, 39, said she
was looking forward to “using my
voice in a way that I haven’t been
able to of late”.

[email protected]
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 mil

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DUKE’S STATES SLANG

PRINCE Harry has started using US By MATT WILKINSON MATT WILKINSON losing the Queen’s English. He said: these new cars has a shield over

slang, months after his States move. “When driving a car and all the the top so you can’t fix it so you
The Duke of Sussex used the reckoned: “The media role is vital warning lights are going off, there gotta call experts in.”

phrase “pop the hood”, rather than in everything going on. Always has_ is smoke pouring out of the hood. Introducing the chat, Meghan said:

lift the bonnet, in an online chat. been, always will be. “You are not going to keep on “We are trying to embrace all qual-
Harry, 36, and wife Meghan, 39, “There is a huge amount of trust driving. You pull over. In the olden ity time with our son and not miss a

took part in a webchat with digital we put into media.” days, you’d probably pop the hood single moment of his growth.”

experts yesterday about improving But a metaphor on the need for up, have a look under it and maybe The couple moved to California
with son Archie earlier this year.

Web chat... Harry and Meghan online communities. Tieless Harry social media experts showed he is fix it. But now every single one of

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FEMALE JUDGES ON LESS
Amanda & Alesha
fury over wagelgap

A GENDER pay row has EXCLUSIVE by CLEMMIE MOODIE

A_ BOY of ten was killed and his best
friend left fighting for life after they
were knocked off a bicycle by a car.

Steven Duffield and his pal were
struck by a BMW on a flyover.

Both boys were taken to hospital
with life-threatening injuries but Steven
died. The other lad remains in a criti-

erupted on_ Britain’s Got
Talent after it emerged the
male stars were paid more

than double the women.
_ Judges Amanda Holden
and Alesha Dixon are
>» unhappy at learning

Simon Cowell and

David Walliams get

much more money for

the same job.

They were alerted to the
discrepancy by ITV sources.
Amanda, 49 — _ recently

promoted to head judge owing

to Simon’s back injury — is on
around £700,000, and 42-year-old
Alesha is on £450,000.

In contrast comedian David, 49,
is on a recently re-negotiated deal
worth more than £1.5million.

And X Factor mogul Simon, 61,
is understood to be on _ around
£2.5million a year for the hit talent
show, which he helped to create.

Sources close to Cowell claimed he
was unaware of the pay discrepancy
and will back moves to get his
co-stars pay rises.

One said yesterday: “Everyone is in

Assistant Editor (Showbiz)

agreement Simon deserves his wage
as he’s the boss, but there seems no
obvious explanation as to why David
should be paid more than the
women. It’s madness a bloke should
be paid considerably more than a
woman for doing identical jobs.

“Amanda and Alesha both bring
something different, and brilliant, to
the table, and are both very popular.

“Obviously they’re not happy and
given Amanda, in particular, is so
passionate about standing up_ for
what’s right, she won’t let this lie.

“She wants to fight and ensure
this gender pay divide is a thing of
the past once and for all.”

On Sunday Amanda confirmed she
was on less money. She told a
magazine: “Yes, I do feel Alesha and
I should be paid the same as Simon
Cowell and David Walliams.

“Because why is their value higher
than ours? I don’t understand it.”

Two years ago ITV set up a

ender pay gap working review after
igures showed an 11.9 per cent
divide between the sexes.

Talent deals are decided between
the production company Thames,
ITV and the artist’s agent.

[email protected]

WALLIAMS

BIKE BOYS TRAGEDY

cal condition following the collision in
Hull, East Yorks, on Monday evening.
A 30-year-old motorist was arrested
and being quizzed by police last night.
Steven’s mum, Alison, 43, held a vigil
at a park near the accident scene
yesterday. Hundreds gathered to release
balloons and set off fireworks.

THE six-bed canal-
side house that
featured in 1990s
Channel 4 show The

Big Breakfast is for

ale for £5.75million
in Stratford, East
London.

COWELL

MAXWELL PIC

JEFFREY Epstein’s alleged pimp Ghis-
laine Maxwell has lost a legal battle to
keep intrusive files including “nude or
sexualised images” of her under wraps.

They were part of a 2015 defamation
lawsuit brought by Epstein’s trafficking
victim Virginia Giuffre, after Maxwell
called her a liar. That civil case was

settled in 2017. But, following her arrest
in July, there were calls to make public
the contents regarding her relationship
with the late billionaire paedophile.

Yesterday the Manhattan circuit court
of appeals rejected an argument by
Maxwell, 58, that the files could
impede her defence.
10 EG7Tr) wednesday, October 21, 2020

2G

MEDIC SPEAKS OUT AT

By NICK McDERMOTT
and JONATHAN REILLY

A NATIONAL circuit
breaker lockdown is not
needed now and would not
be appropriate for many
areas, according to one of

the country’s top doctors.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
publicly announced his oppo-
sition to “hard measures” that
threaten to trash jobs in parts
of the country where Covid
numbers are low.

The respected medic’s criticism
of a national lockdown is a blow
to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer
who has repeatedly called for one.

Meanwhile, medical colleagues
proposed an alternative to the
tiered lockdowns, saying that
shielding just five per cent of Brits
could see a massive reduction in
the number of coronavirus deaths.

Prof Van-Tam’s comments came
after circuit breakers were imposed
in Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Senior members of the
Scientific Advisory Group for
Emergencies have also called for
them in England, saying current
measures do not go far enough.

But deputy chief medical officer
for England Prof Van-Tam is the
most senior clinician to speak out
against them.

Speaking from Downing Street
yesterday, Prof Van-Tam said a
new national lockdown was wrong.

He said: “Pretty much _every-
where in England is now heating
up to some extent.

“We are trying to walk a very
fine line in between getting the
virus under control in areas where
it is out of control while incurring
the minimum amount of economic
damage in doing so.

“It is clear that in the areas
where it is out of control, hard
measures are needed.

“But do I think right now it is
appropriate to insist on those simi-
lar hard measures in, for example,
the South West of England or
Kent, where levels of the disease
are very, very much lower than in
the north of England?

“To impose a national firebreak,
no I don’t think that’s right and I
don’t think that’s right with the epi-
demiological picture we are seeing.”

Prof Van-Tam’s comments against
circuit breakers came as PM Boris
Johnson stood firm against mayor
Andy Burnham in Greater Man-
chester and put the area into a
Tier Three lockdown from Friday.

Speaking at yesterday’s corona-
virus briefing, Mr Johnson said not
to act now would put the lives of
Manchester's residents at risk.

Meanwhile, students in the city
are set to withhold rent in protest
at the University of Manchester’s
treatment of those forced to self-
isolate in halls.

Elsewhere, Health Secretary Matt
Hancock said this week that talks
were planned with leaders in sev-
eral towns about the possibility of
increasing restrictions.

But the leader of Hartlepool Bor-
ough Council, Shane Moore, has
rejected talk of his town being
placed in Tier Three and said any-
one suggesting it will be told to
“sod off”.

It came as it was revealed that
there had been 241 Covid deaths in
the previous 24 hours.

That was the highest number
since June 5 — and took the total
number of UK deaths to 43,967.

In England, the NHS _ reported
134 fatalities on hospital wards
linked to coronavirus among
patients aged between 36 and 100.

All except six had known under-
lying health conditions.

Prof Van-Tam said the figures
showed more restrictions might be
needed in local areas where Covid
rates were not under control.

He said: “We may have to push
on the pedal a little harder.”

But yesterday a study published
by The BMJ suggested an alterna-
tive to the tiered lockdowns could
come by shielding just five per
cent of Brits — potentially cutting
deaths by up to three quarters.
Oxford University scientists

Liye
(-breaker
lockdowns
not needed

Firm stand...
PM gives virus
briefing at
No10 yesterday

hielding gran during lockdown

Shielding
PY tiie
‘better. than
tier system:

VAN-DF

have developed a new Covid risk Edinburgh University, said the
tool using data on more than eight landmark BMJ study suggested tar-
million patients. geted shielding could save lives.

T?’M A CELEB’S

f —— - It aims to help doctors identify But experts on Sage have
aa “ those with the highest chance of rejected the idea of segmenting GREEN LIGHT
ar being admitted to hospital and dying higher-risk older Brits. THE new series of I’m A Celebrity

from Covid. Key factors include age, They said it was unworkable,

will still go ahead despite the

ethnicity, obesity, poverty and under-
lying health conditions.

Researchers found those in the
top five per cent for predicted
death risk accounted for 76 per cent
of fatalities in the first wave. And
those in the highest 20 per cent
made up 94 per cent of deaths.

Mark Woolhouse, professor of
infectious disease epidemiology at

‘Fine line’... Prof Van-Tam

with seven in ten households con-
taining someone over the age of 45.
Health bosses have also decided
millions of high-risk Brits do not
need to shield this winter — thanks
to social distancing and mask use.
Instead, England’s 2.2million clin-
ically extremely vulnerable people
have been told to use common
sense when meeting others.
[email protected]

The Sun Says — Page 12

two-week lockdown in Wales.

Officials think the ITV show, at
Gwrych Castle, Abergele, will give
long-suffering locals something to
look forward to.

Economy minister Ken Skates
reckoned: “It may well be the
public need something like that
right now because there is a men-
tal health crisis at the moment.”