The PM apologises and admits that “clearly for everyone watching this, this is one of those things people will feel is confusing”
The Prime Minister has apologised for muddling up his own COVID-19 rules on social gatherings.
Boris Johnson was questioned about the latest coronavirus restrictions coming into place for the northeast of England starting from midnight on Wednesday.
At first, he said that people were permitted to meet indoors and outdoors in groups of six within areas where no additional COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
But speaking at a news conference in Exeter, the Prime Minister claimed: “In the North East and other areas where extra tight measures have been brought in, you should follow the guidance of local authorities.”
“It’s six in a home or six in hospitality but as I understand it, not six outside.”
This comes after University students across the country have told of the impact that COVID-19 restrictions have had on campuses throughout the UK and have demanded that they are refunded part of their tuition fees.
That was at odds with what the residents of Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham had been told.
Official guidelines warn people living there “not to mix with people outside their household or bubble in indoor settings, including pubs and restaurants”.
And hospitality workers are obliged to “take steps to ensure that people do not socialise outside of their households inside and outside your premises”.
Mr Johnson finished his answer during an event to promote a planned skills revolution by admitting “clearly for everyone watching this, this is one of those things people will feel is confusing”.
He later tweeted “apologies, I misspoke today” – and confirmed the new rules in the North East will mean residents “cannot meet people from different households in social settings indoors, including in pubs, restaurants and your home”.
The prime minister added people should also “avoid socialising with other households outside”, and wrote that the measures were “vital to control the spread of coronavirus and keep everyone safe”.
This comes after a minister has suggested that tighter social restrictions could potentially be imposed if COVID-19 infections in the UK continue to rise. Helen Whately blames restrictions on household mixing as a newspaper says a government source claims the action “will have to come”.
The Labour Party has accused Mr Johnson of being “grossly incompetent”. The Party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has said on the matter: “These new restrictions are due to come into force across huge parts of the country tonight.”
“The government needs to get a grip.”
And shadow justice secretary David Lammy said Mr Johnson’s “incompetence” was “putting British lives at risk”.
