NHS England chief Simon Stevens challenging the Prime Minister to “give us the tools for vaccines and we will finish the job” emphasised the credit due to our most precious public service.
The impressive inoculation records of the NHS in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as England, are the brightening light at the end of a long and often gloomy tunnel.
Jabbing more people at a faster rate is a tantalising prospect if supplies increase.
We are enjoying the benefits of a health service being properly funded after the Tories squeezed the life out of it for years.
Boris Johnson will never be forgiven if he throws away recent progress by reverting to reckless and dangerous dithering.
We must let the NHS finish the job so a safer, brighter, more prosperous future will be ours.
Countries like Spain preparing to welcome holidaymakers point towards a good summer – but if Johnson blunders again we’ll all pay a high price in lost lives and livelihoods.
Royal regret
Buckingham Palace’s anxiety about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle giving a “wide-ranging” US TV interview with Oprah Winfrey is understandable.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex repeatedly demand that their own privacy is respected.
But it is Harry’s family back in Britain who worry most about what might be said about the couple.
These interviews are rarely good for the monarchy, from Princess Diana and Prince Charles separately discussing their marriage to Prince Andrew insisting he’s honourable.
The Queen must wonder what she’s done to deserve this treatment.
Count on Anne
Congratulations to Anne Robinson who won a 39-year race against the clock to become Countdown’s first female host.
Let’s hope she doesn’t tell the losers: “You are the weakest link, goodbye.”
It could spell disaster.
