For me, it's difficult to fully understand exactly how things are in the UK. It looks like, for once the govt is getting it mostly right and the people ate fucking it up big time.
In vaccination they're right on the money. Big Boris secured large numbers of vaccines from all the pharmaceutical companies very very early on. He also ensured they were not manufactured in America knowing they would be seized by Trumps administration. EU law prevents the Belgians doing the same. Whatever he did he also got a deal done that has given the UK uninterrupted supply, unlike the rest of Europe. Lockdown judgements are a toss of the coin in how long and how deep.
However. To me they've been very lax in closing corridors and seem to be continually opening and closing the border to this or that country, the transport of goods between France and Britain obviously necessary. No surprise when the South African strain showed up in the UK.
I also see huge crowds at Heathrow Airport while illegal raves are busted by the police.
A mixed bag indeed.