Boris Johnson wants to ‘slash social distancing to one metre’ to save economy
BORIS Johnson wants to “slash the social distancing rule to one metre” to help save the economy.
The Prime Minister is believed to favour ditching the current two metre rule if the science says it is safe to do so.
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Boris is now said to have tasked a small group of ministers – called the ‘Save Summer Six’ – to draw up measures to return life to something like normal by July.
The group believes changing the social distancing rule is the key to restarting the economy and paving the way for more businesses to open.
At the moment people from different households need to stay two metres apart from one another.
It comes as Business Secretary Alok Sharma is said to have warned that a failure to reopen the hospitality sector could cost up to 3.5 million jobs.
The Sunday Times reports on hearing the news the PM reportedly replied: “Christ!”
A Whitehall Official familiar with the forecasts said: “I wouldn’t quite say there is going to be a tsunami of job losses. “But it’s a pretty enormous wave.”
Last week the ex-Chancellor Lord Lamont demanded the distance was ditched to save the economy.
He argued it was “impossible” for the hospitality industry – including pubs and restaurants – to get back to normal “with rigid social distancing”.
Lowering the two-metre rule to one or 1.5 metres could mean tens of thousands more pubs could reopen and avoid many of them having to lay off staff or even close their doors forever.
World Health Organisation guidelines tell people to maintain “at least one metre” between each other.
Last month the chief exec of the British Beer and Pub Association Emma McClarkin said thousands of pubs across the country would not be able to adhere to a two-metre rule, and would have to keep their doors closed even if they were allowed to reopen.
She said keeping the rule would mean only a third of Britain’s boozers would be able to start serving again – as many as 37,000 would have to stay closed.
If the two-metre rule was halved to one metre that would allow 75 per cent of Britain’s pubs to reopen.
Groups of Tories including former leader Iain Duncan Smith have called for the two-metre rule to be relaxed.
Boris has made it clear he plans to fire up the economy with a ‘Great Recovery Bill’ as the UK eases out lockdown.
He has told ministers to come up with ideas to help companies adapt to the chaos caused by the pandemic.
It comes as the government plans to gradually ease the strict lockdown measures after more than two months, with non-essential shops re-opening on June 15.
