Two-metre rule ‘should be relaxed to halt mass job losses’

BORIS JOHNSON has been urged by senior Conservatives to consider relaxing the two-metre social distancing rule within a fortnight to prevent largescale redundancies.

Last night Greg Clark, the chairman of the Commons science committee, wrote to the Prime Minister asking him “urgently to review” the rule and consider whether a reduction to 1.5 metres may be possible in light of newly available evidence.

Mr Clark said he hoped any change would be implemented before non-essential shops reopened on June 15, pointing out that Mr Johnson had himself expressed hope this week that the official safe distance could be reduced.

With Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, yesterday confirming that firms would have to start paying towards the costs of furloughed staff in August, there is mounting concern that thousands of hospitality employees unable to return to work could be laid off unless the two-metre rule is relaxed imminently.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph beforehand, Mr Clark said: “The difference between two metres and 1.5 metres may seem small but it can be the difference between people being able to go to work and losing their jobs.”

David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told The Telegraph last night that changes to the furlough scheme must be implemented “in step” with a relaxation of social distancing rules. He added that firms would face an “unnatural justice” if they were forced to start paying towards staff costs again whilst remaining shut under the two-metre rule.

“What will happen is that they will shut, meaning the furlough money is wasted, and there will be no tax revenue from that business,” he said.

In his letter, Mr Clark, the former business secretary cites a new paper released by the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage), which acknowledges that it may be possible to “enable distancing at less than two metres” if other Covid-19 control measures are implemented.

Highlighting sections of the paper, which suggest that droplet exposure and infection risk “fall sharply at 1.5 metres”, Mr Clark said the document did not seem to “establish the need for a recommended distance of two metres”. “This evidence is consistent with the guidance of many countries to maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres (such as in Germany, Australia or the Netherlands),” he continued.

“Some administrations that have had success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, such as those in Hong Kong and Singapore, even recommend a distance of one metre – as does the World Health Organisation.” Last night Downing St

sources pointed out that evidence published by Sage was not the same as the final recommendations it provided to ministers, adding that the Prime Minister had made his position on the twometre rule clear earlier this week.

It came as France yesterday announced that it would reopen bars and restaurants outside of Paris under a one-metre social distancing rule. The decision has reignited pressure from business leaders and MPS for Mr Johnson to follow suit, with Luke Johnson, the former chairman of Pizza Express, stating that “any delay is pointless”.

Asked if he agreed with Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak told the Downing Street press conference: “I agree with the Prime Minister. I think what he said was, we will keep it under review.” His comments were echoed by Prof Stephen Powis, NHS England’s National Medical Director, who added: “It’s not an absolute, two metres is not absolute.”

Mr Sunak also announced that firms using the job retention scheme would have to start paying national insurance and tax contributions for staff in August, rising to 10 per cent of furloughed wages in September and 20 per cent in October.

However, while the taper is designed to coincide with the economy gradually restarting, leaders from the hospitality sector have warned that the majority of bars and restaurants will not be able to reopen while the twometre rule remains.

Maintaining the rule is also likely to cripple theatres and cultural venues, while a number of manufacturing firms also say they will be unable to operate at anything over 1.5 metres.

With firms required to notify employees of any planned redundancies 45 days in advance, there are now growing fears that companies will begin laying off employees in the run up to August unless the rules are relaxed.

Mr Davis said: “If it is impossible for a business to come back into effective operation – pub, café, restaurant – it’s not reasonable to expect it to have deep pockets to keep going. It’s an exercise in common sense economics: you must tie the reduction of the furlough scheme to the actions being taken.”

Mr Davis also urged the Prime Minister to look at the experience of other European countries. They include Germany, which operates social distancing of 1.5 metres, and Denmark, which recently dropped down to one metre.

Separately, papers released by Sage this week suggested that the two-metre rule could be relaxed in certain areas, providing measures were implemented to mitigate the risks.