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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)
English pubs, restaurants and hairdressers to open from 4 July; gyms to stay closed. English schools to fully reopen in SeptemberEnglish pubs, restaurants and hairdressers to open from 4 July; gyms to stay closed. English schools to fully reopen in September
Labour’s Dame Diana Johnson asks why pubs are opening ahead of the full opening of schools. Labour’s Andrew Gwynne says, even with a one-metre rule, some schools, particularly in Victorian buildings, will struggle.
Boris Johnson says he wants the economy to open in a Covid-secure way. He claims school reopening in schools is ahead of what is happening in some other European countries. He says Johnson should encourage her Labour colleagues to encourage pupils to go back. Johnson says between now and 1 September the government will work with the sector to get a clear understanding of the risks.
Labour’s Ben Bradshaw asks why it is taking two weeks to scrap the disastrous quarantine policy. He says he hopes by then the incidence will be done so much they can go forward in a more “normalised” way.
Johnson says the government does not want to see infection brought in from abroad. Richard Burgon, the Labour MP, accuses Johnson of gambling with people’s lives. He says Johnson has just made this announcement to appease Tory MPs.
Sir Graham Brady, the Conservative chair of the 1922 Committee, asks for an assurance that air bridges will be in place by 4 July. Johnson disagrees. And he points out that the Labour front bench disagrees with Burgon too.
Johnson confirms that this is being looked at. Bill Wiggin, a Conservative, says he got Covid on the same day as the PM. Yesterday he was given a free test. Does the PM agree that it would help testing more people to see if they have had it?
Johnson says two theories have been advanced to him as to why there are so many outbreaks in meat processing plants. One says the cold is responsible. Another says it is staff congregating together. Johnson agrees. He says it looks as if just 6 or 7% of the population has had the virus. Testing is the answer, he says. He says this country is testing roughly twice as many people per head as any other European country.
Miriam Cates, a Conservative, asks if this announcement means people can ask friends and family help with childcare. The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, has warned that changes to the two metre rule do not apply in Wales. He said:
Johnson says it does mean that. Labour’s Justin Madders asks what the PM says to allow those firms who have spent great sums on introducing the two-metre rule. And will it be changed in the Commons chamber?
Gary Streeter, a Conservative, asks if the government will support the tourism sector through the winter. Johnson says that will be a matter for the Commons. As for business, guidance is being published, he says.
Johnson says he is looking at what can be done. He urges tourism areas to roll out the welcome sign for visitors. Johnson says 87,000 people have been contacted by test and trace and have agreed to self-isolate. That is fantastic, he says. He says the common sense of the British people will get us through this.
Anna McMorrin, the Labour MP, says cooperation between the four nations has ended. Cobra has not met for weeks. She says Johnson should follow the example of the Labour government in Wales. Huw Merriman, a Conservative, asks what will happen if demand exceeds supply on transport. If necessarily, will the government look again at the one-metre rule.
Johnson repeats his call for the Welsh government to rethink the five-mile rule. Johnson just restates the need for people to wear face coverings.
Richard Graham, a Conservative, asks if schools and FE colleges will be able to go back normally in September. Steve Baker, a Conservative, asks if the PM will have a meeting with a specialist in “expert failure” to discuss what can be done better.
Johnson agrees. He says that is what he wants. Johnson says the guidance from scientists has been extremely valuable. But decisions have been taken by government. He takes full responsibility, he says.
Johnson says the government wants to get the prevalence of coronavirus down so much that shielding is no longer needed. Labour’s Catherine West asks what the PM is doing to stop black and minority ethnic communities getting Covid.
Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative former business secretary, says there has been a national outpouring of support for the elderly. But the young have not had the same help. What is being done for people with babies, like himself? Johnson says he wants enhanced testing, and more immediate testing, for these groups.
Johnson says he is doing fine. And there are lessons to be learnt for the future. That is why he has set up a commission.
He says wraparound childcare is coming back in the summer. Johnson urges people to have a staycation in the UK.
Here is the Downing Street press release about the PM’s announcement. Labour’s Lucy Powell says restaurants and pubs in Manchester will welcome the announcement. But what will happen to firms like gyms that have to remain closed.
The SNP’s Ronnie Cowan asks Johnson to condemn firms abusing the furlough scheme. Johnson says the government has set up taskforces to try to enable sectors like that to open as soon as possible.
Johnson says he will look at this issue. But he says the furlough scheme has been a success. There is nothing like it around the world, he claims. Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle says small businesses in Brighton welcome the scheme. But they are worried about taking staff off furlough, and not being able to furlough them again if the firm is not viable.
(That’s not true according to the IFS, which has said the UK’s coronavirus economic bailout is not exceptional by G7 standards.) Johnson urges firms to open up again, provided they do it in a sensible way.
Gareth Johnson, a Conservative, asks Johnson to encourage people to “do their patriotic best for Britain” and go to the pub. Chris Grayling, the Conservative former cabinet minister, asks about people working in the creative industries. Will the government do more to ease the pressure on this sector.
Boris Johnson says people understand the risks. He wants to see people in shops and enjoying hospitality. But they must do it in a responsible way. Johnson says he is doing a huge amount to support this sector.
Labour’s Tracy Brabin asks for an assurance that councils will get all the money they need to keep their areas safe. And why are meat processing plants presenting such a risk? Alistair Carmichael, the Lib Dem MP, asks Johnson “to end the much-ridiculed quarantine period” for people coming to the UK.
Johnson says the government is looking at the meat processing plant issue. Johnson says he thinks it is sensible for the UK to have measures in place to protect it from infection from abroad.
The Conservative Damian Green asks Johnson to ensure that messages in future are as clear as possible. Johnson claims the test and trace system is working better and better, and will be essential to the country’s success.
Johnson says the British people have shown massive common sense so far. He is sure that will continue. Holly Mumby-Croft, a Conservative, says Scunthorpe hospital needs an upgrade more than ever.
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, says people crave competence. Yet this government wasted money on a failed app. What assessment has been made of the risks of these measures provoking a second peak that the NHS cannot handle. Johnson says he is investing record sums. He claims he is going to build 40 new hospitals (a claim widely debunked as misleading). He says it is time to double down on the building programme.
Johnson says he has his doubts about the five-mile rule in Wales.
But he says he agrees on the need to protect against a second outbreak. He says he thinks the government can now use “local whack-a-mole” to deal with local outbreaks.
Sara Britcliffe, a Conservative, asks what can be done to allow pubs to use outdoor space. And she invites Johnson to visit one of her local pubs.
Johnson jokes there is not an area of the country that he does not intend to visit.
Greg Clark, the Conservative chair of the science committees, asks if the ban on cricket is coming to an end. It is our most socially distanced sport, he says.
Johnson says the problem with cricket is that “the ball is a natural vector of disease”. He says he has discussed this with his advisers, and they are looking at how the game can be made covid-secure.