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Covid: Alok Sharma accuses BBC of 'gotcha' line of questioning Covid: Boris Johnson defends local lockdown strategy
(about 3 hours later)
A government minister has accused BBC News of treating interviews like a "quiz show" after Boris Johnson got local coronavirus restrictions wrong. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended the use of localised lockdown measures to combat Covid-19 in the UK.
Business Secretary Alok Sharma criticised the "gotcha line of questioning" when asked about the PM's mistake over rules in the North East. Mr Johnson told MPs "strong local action" was needed in response to "a serious and growing" virus resurgence.
But a police chief for the area said Mr Johnson's mistake had "stoked further confusion" for people. Labour's Sir Keir Starmer asked how people could be expected to understand and follow rules when the PM himself had failed to make them clear.
Reports say a ban on households mixing indoors could extend to Merseyside. Mr Johnson said he had "cleared up" a mistaken comment he made on rules for the North East "as fast as I could".
'Check rules online' Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir asked how the government planned to move towns and cities out of local lockdowns, as some people in places such as Bradford had not seen their families for "months".
On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Sharma was pressed on why - when questioned on Tuesday by Channel 5 - the prime minister was not able to clarify restrictions on social gatherings in north-east England. Mr Johnson said "nobody wants to impose restrictions of this kind" but that "frankly, when you have the virus going up in the way that it is now in some parts of the country, you have to take strong local action".
Mr Johnson's confusion came hours after minister Gillian Keegan was also unable to clarify parts of the new rules. He added that "one important difference" in the way the virus was now spreading in the UK was "it does appear at the moment as though the illness is more localised".
Mr Sharma said there was "an element of slightly 'gotcha' about this in terms of this line of questioning", reminding Today's Martha Kearney she was on "a flagship programme" and "not a quiz show". "That's why you need direct local action of the kind that we're taking, in addition to the strong national measures that we announced last week," he said.
"If people want to understand the precise restrictions that they have in areas which are more restricted, then they should go on to the [local authority] websites," he added.
The government's web pages on coronavirus have links to information from local authorities.
Mr Sharma said the government's "overall message" was that people should keep to the rule of six, wash their hands, cover their faces and make sure they maintain social distancing.
In the affected areas of north-east England, people will no longer be allowed to mix with anyone outside their own household in any indoor setting - although support bubbles are exempt.
In total, at least 16.6 million people are in local lockdowns in the UK - about one in four people.In total, at least 16.6 million people are in local lockdowns in the UK - about one in four people.
The Times reports that officials will decide on Wednesday whether Merseyside will be the latest area to face a ban on households mixing indoors.The Times reports that officials will decide on Wednesday whether Merseyside will be the latest area to face a ban on households mixing indoors.
And about 500,000 people in four council areas in north Wales are to face local lockdown restrictions from Thursday evening.And about 500,000 people in four council areas in north Wales are to face local lockdown restrictions from Thursday evening.
Sir Keir accused Mr Johnson of stoking "widespread confusion" around the localised rules in parts of north-east England, where people will no longer be allowed to mix with anyone outside their own household in any indoor setting - although support bubbles are exempt.
On Tuesday, the prime minister failed to clarify restrictions on social gatherings in north-east England, hours after junior minister Gillian Keegan was unable to answer questions on the rules.
"If the prime minster doesn't understand the rules, and his own [Conservative] council leaders are complaining about mixed messages, how does the prime minister expect the rest of the country to understand and follow the rules?" the Labour leader said.
Mr Johnson said Sir Keir was trying to "snipe from the sidelines" and "undermine" the government's response to the pandemic, adding that people "do understand the rules and overwhelmingly do follow the rules".
In regard to the error he made about those rules on Tuesday - when questioned by Channel 5 - Mr Johnson told the House of Commons: "I cleared that matter up as fast as I could. It's very clear that you shouldn't mix [households] indoors either at home or in [a] hospitality setting, [and] you should avoid socialising outdoors.
"We need to apply that in the North East because that is where is it spiking. I think people do understand why we are doing that, I think people do get it."
Sir Keir said he supported the restrictions but that it was "perfectly reasonable to ask why they aren't working" , adding that infection rates for some areas in local lockdown were continuing to increase.
Rules 'not a quiz show'
Earlier, Business Secretary Alok Sharma accused BBC Radio 4's Today programme of treating interviews like a "quiz show" after Mr Johnson's mistake.
Asked why the PM stumbled over the rules in the North East, Mr Sharma said there was "an element of slightly 'gotcha' about this in terms of this line of questioning", reminding Today's Martha Kearney she was on "a flagship programme" and "not a quiz show".
"If people want to understand the precise restrictions that they have in areas which are more restricted, then they should go on to the [central government and local authority] websites," he added.
Labour shadow health minister Alex Norris criticised Mr Sharma's comments.Labour shadow health minister Alex Norris criticised Mr Sharma's comments.
"The prime minister should understand the rules he is asking huge numbers of people to follow. That's not a gotcha, that's just basic government competence," he said."The prime minister should understand the rules he is asking huge numbers of people to follow. That's not a gotcha, that's just basic government competence," he said.
'Sensible and practical''Sensible and practical'
Meanwhile Kim McGuinness, Labour's police and crime commissioner for Northumbria Police, told Today that Mr Johnson "caused a lot of confusion" when he "misspoke" on Tuesday.Meanwhile Kim McGuinness, Labour's police and crime commissioner for Northumbria Police, told Today that Mr Johnson "caused a lot of confusion" when he "misspoke" on Tuesday.
She said following the restrictions was a "big ask" for people and that the government should "be better at communicating in advance of these local restrictions".She said following the restrictions was a "big ask" for people and that the government should "be better at communicating in advance of these local restrictions".
A health psychologist and member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said confusion has become a problem for people trying to follow coronavirus rules.A health psychologist and member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said confusion has become a problem for people trying to follow coronavirus rules.
Prof Lucy Yardley told the BBC: "I think it is a real problem that people are trying to follow top-down rules that are changing all the time and are different in different places and in different organisations.Prof Lucy Yardley told the BBC: "I think it is a real problem that people are trying to follow top-down rules that are changing all the time and are different in different places and in different organisations.
"We need less rule following and more working together to work out, in your individual situation, what is the best way to minimise the risk to the people around you.""We need less rule following and more working together to work out, in your individual situation, what is the best way to minimise the risk to the people around you."
Prof Yardley said people are following the rules "as far as they think is sensible and practical for them" and are "probably getting it right" by viewing the rules this way. Mr Sharma also urged people - in particular, university students - to follow coronavirus rules.
Mr Sharma urged people - in particular, university students - to follow coronavirus rules.
When asked by BBC Breakfast about a video which appears to show a large group of students having a party at Coventry University, he said: "This has been actually a very, very difficult time for young people and actually, they want to get back to some sense of normality, we can't just lock people down forever.When asked by BBC Breakfast about a video which appears to show a large group of students having a party at Coventry University, he said: "This has been actually a very, very difficult time for young people and actually, they want to get back to some sense of normality, we can't just lock people down forever.
"Universities are open, students have gone back, and of course we ask them, just as we ask the rest of the population, to follow the rules, follow the guidance, and act responsibly, and ultimately this is for their own good, and I hope people will do that." "Students have gone back and of course we ask them - just as we ask the rest of the population - to follow the rules, follow the guidance, and act responsibly."
Mr Sharma added that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was looking into how to make "possible" his commitment that students will be able to go home for Christmas.Mr Sharma added that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was looking into how to make "possible" his commitment that students will be able to go home for Christmas.
The prime minister is expected join the the UK government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, at a Downing Street press conference at 5pm.The prime minister is expected join the the UK government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, at a Downing Street press conference at 5pm.
The UK recorded 7,143 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a new high since mass testing began. Deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test also rose to 71, the highest total since 1 July.The UK recorded 7,143 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a new high since mass testing began. Deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test also rose to 71, the highest total since 1 July.