CABINET HASN’T A CLUE

GOVE AND JENRICK FORCED TO BACKTRACK AFTER GETTING LOCKDOWN RULES WRONG

MICHAEL GOVE was forced to apologise after ministers struggled to understand new lockdown rules.

The Cabinet Office minister backtracked after telling voters they could continue to play golf and tennis during the month-long shutdown.

‘You’ll probably be able to play singles tennis,’ he claimed in a live chat on the Surrey Residents Network. ‘We’re also looking at allowing people to play on golf courses with one other appropriately distanced (person).’

He later corrected himself, tweeting: ‘My apologies. I got this wrong. Outdoor leisure facilities will be closed from Thursday.’ Later, housing minister Robert Jenrick (pictured with Mr Gove) stumbled over how many people can meet up outdoors under new rules.

‘You can go out with your own household, or your own household plus one person,’ he told BBC Breakfast.

That prompted No.10 to clarify that, while individuals can meet outside, household groups will only be able to meet individuals in their support bubble.

The full lockdown rules, due to come into effect tomorrow, were published last night ahead of a Commons vote later today.

It will see all pubs being closed until December 2 but MPs will debate a loophole which allows venues to sell takeaways if ordered in advance ‘through a website, by phone, text message or post’. A petition for golf to be allowed has won more than 257,000 signatures, meaning it must also be considered for debate. But the PM has ruled it out, telling MPs on Monday: ‘Once you unpick at one thing, the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised.’