SORRY, THE PM HASN’T A CLUE
EVEN JOHNSON CAN’T GET HIS HEAD AROUND THE RULES AS HE PREPARES TO ADDRESS NATION AGAIN TODAY
BORIS JOHNSON apologised yesterday after admitting he got his own coronavirus rules wrong.
The prime minister said he ‘misspoke’ when asked to clarify restrictions in north-east England – hours after one of his ministers said she didn’t know the details of the new measures.
His head-scratching performance on a visit to Exeter College in Devon drew comparisons with comedian Matt Lucas’s bumbling spoof on last week’s Great British Bake Off of the PM constantly contradicting himself.
Labour said it was further evidence of Mr Johnson’s ‘gross incompetence’ in dealing with the crisis.
The latest confusion came as a record 7,143 new cases were recorded in the UK and 71 fatalities – the most since July 1, and more than double the number at the same time last week.
The PM will address the nation again today when he will ‘provide an update on the latest statistics’. His spokesperson added: ‘It is not because there is some
specific set of new announcements to make.’ The PM added to Covid confusion when he was asked about the latest rules at a press conference in Exeter.
He said: ‘In the north-east and other areas, where extra-tight measures have been brought in, you should follow the guidance of local authorities. But it is six in a home, six in hospitality but as I understand it, not six outside. That’s the situation there.’
However, people in Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland and Co. Durham, are from today banned from meeting others from different households indoors. They are also advised against mixing outdoors, including pub gardens.
Soon afterwards, the PM tweeted: ‘Apologies, I misspoke today. In the North East, new rules mean you cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home. You should also avoid socialising with other households outside.’
It is thought Mr Johnson confused the regional restrictions with his nationwide ‘rule of six’ on social gatherings.
The PM made his blunder just hours after education minister Gillian Keegan admitted on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that she didn’t know whether people from separate households in the north-east were allowed to meet in pub or restaurant gardens.
She said: ‘I’m sorry, I can’t clarify that. I don’t know the answer to that question.’ Pressed on how people are meant to keep up to date with restrictions when ministers cannot, she added: ‘I’m sorry... (but) I don’t represent the north-east.’
Last night, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: ‘For the prime minister to not understand his own rules is grossly incompetent. The government needs to get a grip.’ Her Labour colleague Yvette Cooper tweeted: ‘ Good grief! If the PM hasn’t a clue what his own rules are, how can he call for the police to ramp up enforcement on everyone else?’
Experts said the confusion would not help the fight against the disease. Dr Daisy Fancourt, of UCL, told Metro: ‘We have seen across the last six months a substantial deterioration in people’s understanding of the Covid-19 rules.
‘Mistakes and statements of uncertainty on the rules and interpretation of the rules from policy makers not only exacerbate this problem but also highlight problems with the rules themselves.’
The government previously ruled out a second nationwide lockdown in favour of local restrictions. But this is said to have led to confusion.
For instance, in Bolton, pubs can only provide food and drink to takeaway, while in Leicester, people from different households cannot meet at each other’s homes. In England, pubs must close at 10pm but up to six people from multiple households can have a party indoors.