Get a grip Boris

PM forced to say sorry for ‘misspeaking’ as he muddles rules

BORIS Johnson was forced to make an embarrassing apology yesterday after getting mixed up over the details of his own lockdown measures in the North East.

In a rare apology, the Prime Minister said he ‘misspoke’ when he mangled an answer to a question about the measures, which came into force last night.

His intervention raised fresh questions about the byzantine system of local lockdowns now curbing the freedoms of more than 16million people.

And it fuelled demands from Tory MPs for Parliament to be given a say over laws before they are brought in. Ministers were locked in talks with rebels last night in a bid to head off a damaging revolt.

Critics urged the PM to ‘get a grip’ of local lockdown measures.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday that the Government was going to ‘introduce legal restrictions on indoor mixing between households in any setting’ in the North East.

The Department of Health said measures would include people being banned from visiting each other’s homes or meeting a friend in a pub or cafe indoors.

But Education minister Gillian Keegan was yesterday unable to say whether the laws, backed by £200 on-the-spot fines, would also apply to people meeting a friend outdoors in a pub beer garden.

The PM’s official spokesman later said the new regulations applied only indoors. But he said Mr Johnson would encourage people in the North East to follow ‘guidance’ that they should not meet friends outdoors either. Half an hour later, the Prime Minister told a Press conference in Exeter, Devon: ‘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.’

Experts quickly pointed out that the PM was wrong.

Just over an hour later, Mr Johnson said on Twitter: ‘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.’

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner claimed the PM did not understand the rules he is imposing on two million people.

She added: ‘For the Prime Minister to not understand his own rules is grossly incompetent. These new restrictions are due to come into force across huge parts of the country tonight. The Government needs to get a grip.’