London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Household mixing ban in London 'very likely', Lammy says

Household mixing ban in London 'very likely', Lammy says

Local lockdown curbs in London are "very likely", Labour frontbencher David Lammy has warned as he admitted he was "very, very worried" about riots erupting in the capital.

Ten million people in the capital have been put on notice for tougher restrictions after 33 boroughs were added to the Government's watchlist as "areas of concern".

Asked if a ban on households mixing was likely, Mr Lammy, MP for Tottenham, said: “Testing capacity in the city is down 43 per cent because of the Government taking away the ability to test successfully here in the city, and allocating it to other parts of the country.

"So we’re in a very very difficult place… it’s very likely that London will find itself in this situation.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had called for mixing between households to be banned within days, warning the city is "at a very worrying tipping point".

“We’re seeing a sharp rise in 111 calls, hospital admissions and patients in intensive care units," a spokesperson said, adding "immediate action" was needed.


Labour MP David Lammy warned further curbs in the capital are 'very likely'


It came as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden doubled down on Sunday morning on Boris Johnson's warning of a second full national lockdown, threatening "further, more draconian restrictions" if Brits flout the new rules.

Mr Dowden also insisted there was "definitely science" behind the 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants, despite three successive nights of crowds in London's West End spilling out onto roads at closing time.

Mr Lammy added he was "greatly" worried about unemployment in his Tottenham constituency soaring beyond 40 per cent and possibly sparking unrest.

He said: "We did see civil disorder in the past, I don’t want to see civil disorder again, I don’t want to see streets on fire, but I’m very, very worried this morning.”

On Saturday night, revellers gathered in Leicester Square to keep the festivities going after the curfew, dancing, singing and even bringing out a drum kit with seemingly little social distancing.

It followed an "impromptu party" breaking out in Oxford Circus on Friday night and heaving scenes in Soho.

London's infection rate is among the fastest rising in the UK, the Office of National Statistics warned, with an R number - the reproduction rate - between 1.2 and 1.5, meaning every ten Covid patients go on to infect between 12 and 15 others.

More than 17 million people in Britain - a quarter of the population - are now under local lockdown curbs with Cardiff, Swansea and Leeds among the latest cities to join the growing list.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×