England opens up on July 4 but we have Scot to wait
Johnson eases restrictions down south and Sturgeon will today reveal timetable for families and businesses
NICOLA Sturgeon will reveal Scotland’s next steps out of lockdown ahead of schedule after Boris Johnson announced yesterday that the UK was coming out of “hibernation”.
The First Minister insisted she is not being rushed by the Prime Minister but will set out details, during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood today, of how families and businesses in Scotland can ease out of lockdown.
Speaking as the Scottish Government U-turned on its plan for part-time schooling next year, Sturgeon hinted that sufficient progress has been made in containing Covid exactly three months to the day since the whole country was shut down.
In the House of Commons, Johnson announced major changes – cutting the two-metre rule in half and confirming that pubs, hairdressers and restaurants will open in England from Saturday, July 4.
The rules are not changing in Scotland yet but Sturgeon said yesterday: “I’ll be able to provide further detail on the timing of some of the specific steps in that journey. I’ll be able to do so ahead of when I thought, just a few days ago, that might be possible.”
However, the First Minister remained cautious and added: “Until then, the position here in Scotland remains the same – we are asking people to keep two metres physical distancing.
“Any changes from other parts of the UK, while we will look at the evidence underpinning those very carefully, will not apply here at this stage.”
The move by Johnson to free up the hospitality and tourism industry means that pubs, restaurants and cinemas are set to reopen in England.
In addition, family groups will be able to meet in each other’s homes for the first time in more than three months. In an optimistic speech, Johnson told the Commons: “Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end.”
But the Prime Minister urged continued caution against local flare-ups of coronavirus.
And he said the Government will be vigilant over any further outbreaks and will not hesitate to reintroduce national measures if necessary.
With the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments going at their own more cautious pace to ease lockdown, the Prime Minister had been accused of bowing to demands of powerful business interests and his own Tory backbenchers.
He was praised by his own MPs for trusting the “common sense” of the public.
But the unofficial committee of Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned that public safety was being compromised by the easing of lockdown.
Announcing the two-metre social distancing rule would be replaced by the “one metre plus” guidelines, Johnson said the Government will publish Covid-secure guidelines for every sector and that slowly but surely the measures will restore a sense of normality.
He added: “After the toughest restrictions in peacetime history, we’re now able to make life easier for people to see more of their friends and family and help businesses get back on their feet and get people back into work.”
As well as going to the pub, people in England can have their hair cut, too.
Johnson said: “Almost as eagerly awaited as a pint will be a haircut, particularly by me, so we will reopen hairdressers with appropriate precautions, including the use of visors.”
Labour’s Keir Starmer welcomed the Government announcement in broad terms but said that unlocking needed to be based on “scientific evidence, properly communicated, accompanied by robust track and trace systems”.
He added: “I believe the Government is trying to do the right thing and in that, we will support them.”
Starmer told MPs: “Any unlocking carries risks. It has to be phased, managed and carefully planned but there are risks of inaction as well. Of keeping businesses and schools closed, of keeping our economy closed, of keeping families apart and we all need to recognise that today.”
Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster leader, called for the scientific advice to be published and for decisions to be based on science, not economic assessments.
Johnson agreed and said that devolved governments would be involved in decisions on opening air bridges to other countries. He added: “The more we open up, the more vigilant we will need to be”.