To all who read this story about the government's 'Stalinist' censoring of advice from scientists, there's been a u-turn. The report has just been quietly republished online, without redactions. Why the sudden change of mind? Here's one theory... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/08/revealed-uk-scientists-fury-over-attempt-to-censor-covid-19-advice

The new version of the report – with no text blanked out – is available on the link below. It confirms what we reported: the government blanked out criticisms of some of its policies from a Sage subgroup of behavioural scientists, known as SPI–B.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884013/28-easing-restrictions-on-activity-and-social-distancing-comments-suggestions-spi-b-01042020.pdf

Crucially: note how behavioural scientists expressed "reservations" about the idea of "increasing financial penalties", warning: "Any flat rate financial penalty will have a higher impact on poorer households." Well that may be exactly what is about to happen.

According to the Sunday Times, the PM will tonight announce "fines will be increased for those failing to abide by the new rules". If that happens, the government must explain why just a few days ago it sought to block the public from reading scientific criticism of that approach

Regardless of whether ministers increase fines tonight (against the advice of their experts), this saga has followed a familiar script. Just like secrecy over who attends Sage, the government has been forced into a 180 degree turn over transparency and scientific advice.

PS: A govt spokesperson said the u-turn occurred because "Sir Patrick Vallance and No10 agree that such Sage documents relating to Covid should be published in full, in the interests of maximum transparency, with exceptions only for matters relating to national security."