SUNLIGHT AT END OF THE TUNNEL
Brits ready to go barbecue and picnic crazy as temperatures hit 25C this week But docs stay stick to social distance rules... as ex-PM May attacks Cummings
SHOPS are braced for a spike in sales of food and booze as the heatwave and easing of lockdown rules looks set to spark a barbecue frenzy.
Temperatures are expected to hit 25C and up to six people can get together in public from Monday.
But doctors warned Brits to continue social distancing in a bid to prevent a second Covid-19 wave.
Boris Johnson was dealt a fresh blow in the Dominic Cummings lockdown row when ex-PM Theresa May said his aide did not follow “the spirit of the guidance”.
THERESA May exposed the depth of the rift the Dominic Cummings scandal is causing in the Tory party as she launched her own attack yesterday.
The former Prime Minister’s intervention added to pressure on successor Boris Johnson to sack his controversial svengali – who she accused of failing to “follow the spirit” of lockdown guidance.
Mrs May said she could “well understand” the public’s anger at him driving 260 miles from London to Durham when we had all been told to stay at home. In a statement to her constituents in Maidenhead, Berks, she said: “What this matter has shown is there was a discrepancy between simple messages given by the Government and details of the legislation passed by Parliament. In these circumstances I do not feel that Mr Cummings followed the spirit of the guidance.
“I can well understand the anger of those who have been abiding by the spirit of the guidance and expect others to do so.
“One of my biggest concerns has been the ongoing focus on Mr Cummings has been detracting from the most important task, which is dealing with coronavirus.”
Mr Johnson is standing by Mr Cummings – despite the Mirror revealing last weekend how he travelled to Durham and also made a 60-mile round trip to local beauty spot Barnard Castle. Mr Cummings claimed he went to Durham so he
and his wife had access to childcare for their young son if they fell ill.
He said the trip to Barnard Castle was made to test his eyesight.
Durham Police have said he may have committed a “minor breach” with the trip to Barnard Castle – but will face no action. Nearly 17,000 fines for alleged breaches of lockdown rules have been issued in England and Wales. The PM said after the force’s statement that the matter is closed.
But the row continues to tear his party apart, with dozens of Tory MPs calling for Mr Cummings to go.
And it continues to overshadow the response to the pandemic, with the death toll hitting 38,161 last night, up 324. And a measure using various UK statistics offices put it past 48,000.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak sparked warnings of mass redundancies as he unveiled an overhaul of the furlough scheme that has cost the Treasury £14billion a month. Firms will start paying into the Job Retention Scheme from August and by
October, the Government will cover just 60% of wages up to a £1,875 limit.
But experts warn firms in hard-hit sectors may sack staff when they become responsible for pay again.
The GMB union’s John Phillips said: “In October, lots of sectors may still be on their knees. Those workers can’t just be thrown to the wolves.”