PM defends controversial 10pm curfew

BORIS Johnson yesterday attempted to defend the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants despite growing criticism it may actually be aiding the spread of coronavirus.

The Prime Minister insisted there was scientific evidence behind the restrictions, namely that drinkers and diners get more ‘convivial’ as the evening goes on – increasing the chance of personto-person contact.

And he blamed those who ‘pour out on to the street and hobnob’ for any increase in transmission.

Mr Johnson’s support for the policy contrasts sharply with the attempt by Michael Gove to distance himself from it in an interview yesterday.

Scientists have warned that the controversial curfew can increase the risk because it means public transport becomes crowded at particular times.

And many Tory MPs are concerned that such restrictions are needlessly harming the hospitality sector just at a time when it is important to get the economy back on its feet.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Johnson said: ‘The scientific evidence is of course that the virus is transmitted by person to person contact. It’s transmitted in what they call hospitality sectors, which means in pubs and bars and restaurants, particularly as people get more convivial as the evening goes on.

‘One of the things that has been put to us is that by curtailing the hours you can reduce the transmission.

‘And what we’re saying to people is that’s the objective, so people just need to follow the guidance.

‘And obviously it makes no sense if having followed the guidance for all the time in the pub they then pour out into the street and hobnob in such a way as to spread the virus.’

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Gove was careful not to take credit for the controversial 10pm policy.

Despite multiple reports that he led the charge to bring in the cut-off, as a way of avoiding a ‘circuit breaker’ national lockdown, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said the idea came from senior civil servants reporting to the Covid taskforce.

‘It was the right thing to do but it wasn’t my idea,’ he said.

It had been reported that Environment Secretary George Eustice led attempts within the Cabinet to introduce a more graduated cut-off point to prevent pub-goers from spilling out together, only for Mr Gove to insist on a hard guillotine at 10pm.

‘I’m not in favour of guillotines, that would be going too far,’ he said. ‘You can’t go into what people discuss in Cabinet committee meetings but the policy was agreed.’

Last week, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, demanded an urgent review of the rules, which he said led to people buying drinks in offlicences and holding parties at home.

‘I received reports that the supermarkets were absolutely packed out to the rafters with people gathering,’ he said.

‘My gut feeling is that this curfew is doing more harm than good.’

Professor Susan Michie, a member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said last week it was always ‘predictable’ that ejecting people on to the streets at the same time would lead to crowds forming.

She said it was ‘especially concerning’ that people were being pressed together on public transport.

‘Pour out into the street and hobnob’