The UK is pressing full steam ahead with its plans to end all coronavirus restrictions

on July the 19th, but its scientists and politicians agree now is as good time as any.

There is no such thing as an ideal date. All the possible dates have downsides, and as

Prime Minister has said, if we go at this point in time, we go at a point when there are

still some people being vaccinated.

Welcome to Payne's Politics, your essential insider guide to what's happening in British

politics from the financial times, with me Sebastian Payne. In this week's episode, we'll

be looking at an especially chaotic week in 10 Downing Street, as the government decided

to press ahead with easing lockdown as you heard at the top there, and Chief Medical Officer

Chris Whitty. How has the government got itself into such a tangle on masks? Health editors

Sarah Neville and Chief Platoch commentator Robert Trimsey will discuss.

And later, we'll be trying to figure out what exactly is levelling up. Boris Johnson

gave what was built as a major speech on the topic in Coventry this week, yet failed

to set out any clear new policies of how to tackle regional inequality. Peter Foster

our Public Policy Editor and Chief Platoch Cosmarine Jim Picard will intent to unravel.

But first, Robert and Sarah, welcome back.

Hi, sir. Thanks, sir.

Now obviously we'll come on to masks in a moment, but it's something that I've written

about in the FT this week, and it's certainly a thing of personal responsibility here.

Come Monday next week, where will you not and will continue to wear masks, Robert?

I think I will definitely continue to wear a mask on public transport. I feel that one

very strongly, and I will probably wear a mask in anything that feels like confined

...