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| UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson ditches 2m social distancing rule for '1m-plus' in England | UK coronavirus live: Boris Johnson ditches 2m social distancing rule for '1m-plus' in England |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| No 10 scraps daily press conference after today; 2m rule stays in Scotland and Wales; English pubs, restaurants, hairdressers to open from 4 July | No 10 scraps daily press conference after today; 2m rule stays in Scotland and Wales; English pubs, restaurants, hairdressers to open from 4 July |
| Sky’s Sam Coates has a useful list of all the venues opening in England. | |
| The Society of Independent Brewers has said that, although Boris Johnson’s announcement about pubs being allowed to open in England is welcome, the sector will need a lot more support. Its chief executive James Calder said: | |
| Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse has dropped out of the race to lead her party, throwing her support behind MP Layla Moran. You can read her statement here – | |
| The UK has recorded a further 171 coronavirus deaths, according to the latest daily figures from the Department of Health and Social Care, taking the headline total to 42,927. | |
| These figures only cover the deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus and died. The UK figure for all deaths caused by coronavirus is more than 54,000. See 10.24am. | |
| PureGym, one of the UK’s largest operators with more than one million members, has said criticised the government for claiming to be “at war with obesity”, while also allowing restaurants and pubs to open before gyms. | |
| In a statement, the company said: | |
| The statement added that industry-agreed guidance on hygiene and social distancing was submitted to the government early in May and continued: | |
| The TUC is saying firms should be legally required to publish their Covid-19 risk plans. Responding to the PM’s announcement, the TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: | |
| Scotland’s education secretary John Swinney has said that teachers should now prepare for pupils to return full time from August, with no social distancing in classrooms, after an avalanche of criticism of plans for a “blended learning” model which would have seen some children spending only one day a week in school. | |
| The announcement comes amidst rising panic from parents, who had been contemplating indefinite home-schooling of their children as they heard from different local authorities that social distancing requirements would mean year groups spending limited time with their teachers and peers. | |
| East Dunbartonshire, for example, was planning for one third of secondary year groups attending at any one time, while parents at Perth high school, one of the largest secondary schools in Perth and Kinross, were told that children in S2 and S3 would be expected to continue learning from home four days a week. Parents already juggling home-working and limited childcare available over the summer were increasingly vocal in their profound concerns last week. | |
| But in a statement to the Holyrood parliament this afternoon – following a week of outcry from parents groups, Scotland’s childrens’ commissioner and opposition parties – Swinney changed tack, telling MSPs: | |
| Describing it as “a change born out of hard work and sacrifice”, he added that blended learning would remain “a contingency that we may still need to enact”. | |
| The National Caravan Council has welcomed Boris Johnson’s announcement. Its director, John Lally, said: | |
| There has been one further coronavirus death in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland has said. | |
| Public Health Wales said a further five people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,483, while the total number of cases there increased by 98 to 15,295. | Public Health Wales said a further five people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,483, while the total number of cases there increased by 98 to 15,295. |
| The government is considering introducing non-jury trials for less serious offences as well as extending court opening hours and hiring additional court sites, MPs have been told. | The government is considering introducing non-jury trials for less serious offences as well as extending court opening hours and hiring additional court sites, MPs have been told. |
| Two options are being considered for emergency legislation, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has told the justice select committee: reducing the size of the jury to 7 members and letting a judge sit alongside two magistrates without jurors. | Two options are being considered for emergency legislation, the justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has told the justice select committee: reducing the size of the jury to 7 members and letting a judge sit alongside two magistrates without jurors. |
| Any cases dealt with in those types of trials would be restricted to less serious offences where the maximum term of imprisonment would be two years, Buckland said. Emergency legislation would need to be approved before the summer recess so the new courts could begin in September, he added. | Any cases dealt with in those types of trials would be restricted to less serious offences where the maximum term of imprisonment would be two years, Buckland said. Emergency legislation would need to be approved before the summer recess so the new courts could begin in September, he added. |
| The need for such radical alternatives was because the backlog of cases, already large before lockdown, has grown significantly under lockdown when many courts were closed. There are more than 40,000 crown court and around 480,000 magistrate court cases now waiting to be heard. | The need for such radical alternatives was because the backlog of cases, already large before lockdown, has grown significantly under lockdown when many courts were closed. There are more than 40,000 crown court and around 480,000 magistrate court cases now waiting to be heard. |
| Buckland revealed that he has this week signed off on the hire of ten emergency, ‘Nightingale’ courts to be based in other non-judicial buildings. | Buckland revealed that he has this week signed off on the hire of ten emergency, ‘Nightingale’ courts to be based in other non-judicial buildings. |
| The shadow justice secretary, Labour’s David Lammy, tweeted in response: | The shadow justice secretary, Labour’s David Lammy, tweeted in response: |
| Boris Johnson’s announcement to the Commons, which you can read in full here, and his replies to questions from MPs, told us a huge amount about changes that will affect life for almost everyone in England. We have summarised the news announcements here. But the politics were also interesting too, in that we got glimpse into what Johnson seems to see as his escape route from a crisis that may yet prove terminal to his administration. Here are four things we’ve learnt. | Boris Johnson’s announcement to the Commons, which you can read in full here, and his replies to questions from MPs, told us a huge amount about changes that will affect life for almost everyone in England. We have summarised the news announcements here. But the politics were also interesting too, in that we got glimpse into what Johnson seems to see as his escape route from a crisis that may yet prove terminal to his administration. Here are four things we’ve learnt. |
| 1 - Johnson confirmed that he’s desperate to move on from coronavirus as soon as possible. Remarkably, this was only his second statement to the Commons this year on coronavirus policy. Ever since he misjudged the mood in his early days of the crisis with his glib bonhomie, it has been obvious that he is uncomfortable conveying bad news to his nation. He has only attended the press conferences infrequently (unlike Nicola Sturgeon, who has fronted the Scottish government ones almost daily) and today’s announcement that No 10 is ending daily press briefings (see 2.10pm) seems like confirmation that Downing Street would rather pretend it is all more or less over. In his opening statement Johnson suggested too, that with imagery that may have come out of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He said: | 1 - Johnson confirmed that he’s desperate to move on from coronavirus as soon as possible. Remarkably, this was only his second statement to the Commons this year on coronavirus policy. Ever since he misjudged the mood in his early days of the crisis with his glib bonhomie, it has been obvious that he is uncomfortable conveying bad news to his nation. He has only attended the press conferences infrequently (unlike Nicola Sturgeon, who has fronted the Scottish government ones almost daily) and today’s announcement that No 10 is ending daily press briefings (see 2.10pm) seems like confirmation that Downing Street would rather pretend it is all more or less over. In his opening statement Johnson suggested too, that with imagery that may have come out of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He said: |
| Britain clearly has passed the peak of the crisis, but the country still faces deeply serious problems for months and maybe years ahead, and Johnson did not really acknowledge that. | Britain clearly has passed the peak of the crisis, but the country still faces deeply serious problems for months and maybe years ahead, and Johnson did not really acknowledge that. |
| 2 - His hubris is back. Only recently Johnson was facing questions about whether his decision to delay the lockdown by a week led to an extra 20,000 or more people dying unnecessarily. That accusation is a legitimate one, and it won’t go away. But today Johnson faced very little criticism of his handling of his crisis and after Sir Keir Starmer made it clear in his response that Labour was broadly supportive, Johnson’s mood seemed to lighten and his hubris let rip. Misjudging the tone, he accused Labour of a U-turn on schools (which may have been half true but was 100% crass, given that Starmer was pointedly avoiding party politics). And, on test and trace, Johnson said: | 2 - His hubris is back. Only recently Johnson was facing questions about whether his decision to delay the lockdown by a week led to an extra 20,000 or more people dying unnecessarily. That accusation is a legitimate one, and it won’t go away. But today Johnson faced very little criticism of his handling of his crisis and after Sir Keir Starmer made it clear in his response that Labour was broadly supportive, Johnson’s mood seemed to lighten and his hubris let rip. Misjudging the tone, he accused Labour of a U-turn on schools (which may have been half true but was 100% crass, given that Starmer was pointedly avoiding party politics). And, on test and trace, Johnson said: |
| This was a full-on whopper- because other countries are using apps successfully. Johnson has been accused of talking rubbish. | This was a full-on whopper- because other countries are using apps successfully. Johnson has been accused of talking rubbish. |
| 3 - Increasingly coronavirus has turned Johnson into the prime minister of England. No such position actually exists in the British constitution, but all the measures announced by Johnson today applied just to England - and he even said so explicitly. (Earlier in the crisis, when announced England-only measures, UK ministers tended not to acknowledge this.) Some of Johnson’s coronavirus policy has been UK-wide, like the economic measures (widely applauded) and quarantine (roundly dismissed as pointless, with even Johnson struggling to keep a straight face as he defended it in the chamber today). Johnson gave himself the title minister for the union when he took office as PM, but Covid has made that seem less appropriate than ever. | 3 - Increasingly coronavirus has turned Johnson into the prime minister of England. No such position actually exists in the British constitution, but all the measures announced by Johnson today applied just to England - and he even said so explicitly. (Earlier in the crisis, when announced England-only measures, UK ministers tended not to acknowledge this.) Some of Johnson’s coronavirus policy has been UK-wide, like the economic measures (widely applauded) and quarantine (roundly dismissed as pointless, with even Johnson struggling to keep a straight face as he defended it in the chamber today). Johnson gave himself the title minister for the union when he took office as PM, but Covid has made that seem less appropriate than ever. |
| 4 - Labour is saving its powder for another day. As leader Starmer has chosen to pick the issues on which he attacks the government carefully. When Richard Burgon asked a question, we got a flavour of what a Corbyn-led party might be saying about this. (See 2.03pm.) Starmer does not agree with Burgon that the PM is putting profits ahead of safety, and it is hard to imagine him being more supportive. Will this turn out to be a mistake of easing the lockdown goes horribly wrong? Not necessarily. Gordon Brown backed ERM membership as enthusiastically as Norman Lamont, but no one remembered after Black Wednesday. | 4 - Labour is saving its powder for another day. As leader Starmer has chosen to pick the issues on which he attacks the government carefully. When Richard Burgon asked a question, we got a flavour of what a Corbyn-led party might be saying about this. (See 2.03pm.) Starmer does not agree with Burgon that the PM is putting profits ahead of safety, and it is hard to imagine him being more supportive. Will this turn out to be a mistake of easing the lockdown goes horribly wrong? Not necessarily. Gordon Brown backed ERM membership as enthusiastically as Norman Lamont, but no one remembered after Black Wednesday. |
| The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Recovery Group, welcomed the announcement that places of worship can reopen from 4 July. | The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who leads the Church of England’s Recovery Group, welcomed the announcement that places of worship can reopen from 4 July. |
| She adde that “the online services and dial-in worship offerings we have become used to will continue”. | She adde that “the online services and dial-in worship offerings we have become used to will continue”. |
| Marston’s chief Ralph Findlay has been speaking to PA Media. He has said he expects the company will reopen 80 to 85% of its 1,400 pubs from 4 July after being given the go-ahead to open sites with “1-metre-plus” distancing in place. | Marston’s chief Ralph Findlay has been speaking to PA Media. He has said he expects the company will reopen 80 to 85% of its 1,400 pubs from 4 July after being given the go-ahead to open sites with “1-metre-plus” distancing in place. |
| He said he was concerned by speculation that customers might have to register their names at the bar. (The prime minister said specific safety measures for pubs, restaurants and other sites will still be clarified.) Findlay said: | He said he was concerned by speculation that customers might have to register their names at the bar. (The prime minister said specific safety measures for pubs, restaurants and other sites will still be clarified.) Findlay said: |
| This is from the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas – | This is from the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas – |
| Some of the largest museums and galleries have issued a joint statement welcoming the announcement that they will be able to begin to welcome back visitors. | Some of the largest museums and galleries have issued a joint statement welcoming the announcement that they will be able to begin to welcome back visitors. |
| Tate, Science Museum Group, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum directors said: | Tate, Science Museum Group, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum directors said: |
| This is from the culture secretary – | This is from the culture secretary – |
| A further 46 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died in English hospitals, NHS England has said. It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in that setting to 28,384. The full details are here. | A further 46 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died in English hospitals, NHS England has said. It brings the total number of confirmed reported deaths in that setting to 28,384. The full details are here. |
| The patients were aged between 51 and 97. Two of them, aged 84 and 87, had no known underlying health conditions. | The patients were aged between 51 and 97. Two of them, aged 84 and 87, had no known underlying health conditions. |