SO-called ‘Freedom Day’ was dealt a blow last night as Boris Johnson announced a four-week delay in the final step out of lockdown.

The road map easing had been earmarked for June 21, but has now been pushed back to July 19.

Boris Johnson delivered the news in a Downing Street press conference, accompanied by England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and the Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance.

The announcement came amid warnings from scientists that the rapid spread of the Delta variant first identified in India risks a “substantial” third wave if it is allowed to spread unchecked.

Latest figures show that Bradford’s Covid-19 infection rate is now 132.6, with the number of cases increasing nearly 86 per cent on the previous week.

The delay means limits on numbers for sports events, pubs and cinemas will remain in place, nightclubs will stay closed and people will be encouraged to keep up social distancing and working from home.

Some restrictions will be eased, such as the number of guests at weddings no longer being limited to 30, although venues and hosts will have to do a risk assessment to ensure social distancing. Pilot events, including Euro 2020 games, will also be able to continue.

Shipley MP Philip Davies hit out at the delay, telling the Telegraph & Argus: “I am frustrated beyond belief that the Government is planning to extend the lockdown restrictions which are an unjustified assault on our freedoms and are doing untold damage to many businesses and people’s livelihoods.

“The Government should trust in its vaccination programme which has massively reduced the number of deaths and hospitalisations. What is the point in having the best vaccine programme in the world if we are still going to be forced into keeping to these restrictions even when deaths and hospitalisations are lower than anyone expected them to be?”

He said the Government appear to have been “taken hostage” by SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) and Public Health England, pointing to comments made by Professor Susan Michie, who suggested some behaviour changes should continue in the long-term.

Mr Davies added: “There is no justification in any restrictions still being in place - anyone susceptible to serious illness and death from Covid have been fully vaccinated - and we must have our freedoms returned to us.

“I have found it chilling how easily people have been frightened into giving up their freedoms and this descent into resembling Communist China cannot be allowed to continue.

“I am incredibly angry about this and will continue to do all I can to see common sense prevail and have our freedoms returned to us. It is about time the Prime Minister trusted in his Conservative instincts and let us get back to normal.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said that the delay was "disappointing", but necessary for people's safety.

“This is clearly disappointing news for those businesses who were planning to open and for people planning events and holidays. But we know infection rates are rising quickly so we have to support the Government’s decision. We all want to stop people becoming infected and prevent further restrictions and another lockdown", she said.

“We ask that everyone remains vigilant and follow the guidance so that we will see easing of restrictions again in four weeks’ time. We know vaccinations make a huge difference, so if you are offered one, please take it. It will help protect you and also will protect our community.”

Bradford BID manager Jonny Noble expressed a similar view: “Naturally we are extremely disappointed that so-called ‘freedom day’ has still not arrived but we fully understand why the Government has felt it necessary to delay easing the lockdown restrictions for another four weeks.

“With Delta variant infection numbers surging in Bradford and the rest of England, and scientists saying that a single dose of the vaccine is only about 33 per cent effective in preventing it from causing serious illness, it makes sense to buy more time to give more people the extra protection and reassurance that a second dose gives.

“The last thing business needs is to come out of the restrictions only to have them imposed again because more people are getting ill and hospitals are under pressure. The danger is that, if we needed to go back into lockdown, it would again hit businesses that are currently not restricted.

“But the extension will be very difficult for a lot of businesses, particularly in the hospitality and leisure sectors, who were counting on being able to reopen before the end of June to try to recoup some of their losses over the summer.

“Although the limited easing of restrictions for the wedding industry will be welcome for related businesses and couples alike, pubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, theatres and other venues will continue to face limits on numbers as well as social distancing restrictions, while nightclubs will have to stay closed, so it is vitally important that the Government extends financial support to fit with the extended measures.

“Business rates relief, for instance, is due to reduce at the end of June, the ban on commercial rent evictions will end then and furlough payments are due to drop from 80 to 70 per cent. All of that will remove vital lifelines at just the wrong moment for businesses that have battled hard to adapt and survive and are now nearing the cliff edge, so we would urge the Government to rethink their policy and just do that little bit extra to help get the worst-hit sectors over the line.”

Suzanne Watson, President of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, added: “There needs to be appropriate support measures available to those sectors and their supply chains still affected. Certain sectors of the economy continue to be severely damaged by lockdown, possibly long-term, and all areas of business and industry need to be back up-and-running as soon as possible", he said.

"That said, we understand the difficulties caused by the different emerging variants of the pandemic and the difficult balance between protecting health and supporting the economy.”

Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, also said that there remains more "uncertainty" on holidays abroad: “Like many sectors, aviation has been impacted on a global scale due to the pandemic. There remains more uncertainty for international travel, which could mean it is still many months before our airports begin to reach sustainable volumes of customers.

"Many other closed sectors that have now been able to reopen have benefited from enhanced support beyond the job retention scheme over the last year. In the short-term, aviation also needs that support to sustain cash flow and protect jobs as well as greater certainty for our passengers on their ability to travel without restrictions.

"We must not lose sight of the role that aviation will play in the Government’s levelling up agenda and how buoyancy in aviation can aid regional economic recoveries, now and in the future, as well as our long term connectivity.”