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Corona crisis in Great Britain: England relaxes contact restrictions

2020-05-28T18:00:07.275Z


England also wants to slowly return to normal. The British are not yet as far as the rest of Europe.


England also wants to slowly return to normal. The British are not yet as far as the rest of Europe.

  • Great Britain suffers from the Corona crisis *: All news up to May 24th can be found in the old ticker
  • Johnson advisor Dominic Cummings  violated the exit restrictions
  • Criticism of Boris Johnson after expressing solidarity for consultants 


+++ 7.15 p.m .:  The contact restrictions in England are further relaxed. This was announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (May 28, 2020). From next week on, meetings of up to six people in private gardens should be possible as long as the minimum distance of two meters is maintained. Until now, only two people from different households could meet in parks and other public spaces. Shops with outdoor sales areas should also be allowed to open again. In addition, some of the schools are being reopened to a larger number of children.

Johnson had given five conditions for further easing. These include falling numbers for infections and deaths. All conditions have now been met, said the conservative head of government. "I don't want to, and I won't, throw away the successes we have achieved together, so the changes we make are limited and cautious," said Johnson. At the end of March, he took strict measures to contain the virus, including all shops except grocery stores and pharmacies that have been closed since then. There had already been a first round of loosening in early May. Among other things, garden centers were allowed to open again.

Britain has the highest number of deaths in Europe according to official statistics. By Wednesday, around 37,800 people had died there after being tested positive for the coronavirus.

Cummings broke lockdown rules after all

+++ 15.10 PM: According to the police, the British government  adviser Dominic Cummings may have violated the lockdown rules. The prime adviser to Prime Minister

Boris Johnson may have committed a minor breach of the Corona exit restrictions by driving to Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday, the police in Durham County said on Thursday. But he had no reckoning with any consequences. Cummings and the government have so far vehemently denied breaking the rule.

The Johnson consultant is criticized for traveling to his parents in London at the end of March in Durham, about 430 kilometers away. He refuses to resign. Cummings insists that he acted within the rules. So far, he also has the backing of the Prime Minister. Cummings claims to have had no other way of ensuring that his four-year-old son was looked after because both he and his wife had a coronavirus infection. According to the message, the police also see no breach of the rule here.

Cummings could, however, be the fate of the shorter trip that he undertook from Durham after surviving illness. He allegedly wanted to test the journey to the village of Barnard Castle, about 40 kilometers away, whether he was fit enough for the return trip to London and whether his vision impairment had improved sufficiently again. A local had seen and reported him there. Downing Street government headquarters said the police report did not change the situation. Johnson considers the matter to be closed.

Update from Thursday, May 28th, 2020, 6 a.m .: The journalist  Emily Maitlis is known in Great Britain for her critical inquiries. Just remember her interview with Prince Andrew about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, which caused a stir across the island in November 2019. 

Now the moderator is suddenly the focus of the news. Because after her statements in the affair about the British government advisor Dominic Cummings , the BBC station replaced her on Wednesday evening at short notice. 

What happened? Maitlis had accused Cummings of announcing her "Newsnight" show on Tuesday (May 26th) that he had broken the rules in the fight against the pandemic by traveling to his parents in Durham in the north-east of England. "The country can see that and is shocked that the government cannot." At the same time, it accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of "blind loyalty" to his adviser. 

So did the journalist against rules of bipartisanship in violation of the sender, who shared BBC  with then. The presenter was represented on the show on Wednesday by her colleague Katie Razzall. The BBC scolded sharp protests from journalists and politicians . The "National Union of Journalists" said that "honest and fearless journalism" is particularly important during a crisis. Known as a critic of the BBC, Johnson questions the broadcasting fee. 

Maitlis meanwhile tried to calm the mind. "I asked for an evening off," she wrote on Twitter. And that the show was "in extremely excellent hands" with Katie Razzall. 

So grateful to my friend and excellent colleague @katierazz for stepping in this evening. She did so because I asked for the night off -knowing tonight's prog would be in the most excellent hands #newsnight https://t.co/0ZkH2KbzBF

- emily m (@maitlis) May 28, 2020

Corona affair is difficult for Boris Johnson

Update from Thursday, May 28, 2020, 6 a.m .: Boris Johnson apparently continues to adhere to his controversial advisor Dominic Cummings . Johnson now had to report to Parliament's so-called liaison committee. He was also asked why he had not ordered an official investigation into Cummings' behavior. 

Johnson said that he was not sure whether an investigation was time well spent, calling the indignation at Cummings' behavior "a distraction" and a "very, very frustrating episode". He could understand why people were concerned with the topic, "but what we really have to do is leave it behind".

The Liaison Committee is made up of the chairs of the standing committees of Parliament and is the only one to which the head of government has to report regularly . It was Johnson's first appearance there as Prime Minister. The Chairman of the Liaison Committee warned the Prime Minister to come regularly.

Conservatives in Britain rebel: Boris Johnson fights Tory revolt over Cummings affair 

Update from Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 2:00 p.m .: The affair with Dominic Cummings is causing more and more unrest in Great Britain . Now the calls for the resignation of the British government adviser, who has broken his own corona rules, are becoming increasingly louder. Almost 40 parliamentarians from the ruling Conservative Party are already demanding that Cummings take his hat . Prime Minister Boris Johnson has trouble controlling the growing revolt in his own ranks, the Times reported on Wednesday. 

This is probably also because the Torys lose significantly in the Corona crisis , while the opposition is growing. For example, according to a poll by the YouGov Institute, Johnson's conservatives' lead over the opposition Labor party decreased by nine percentage points. Accordingly, the ruling party lost four points and is now 44 percent. Labor improved five points to 38 percent. The Torys had recently suffered such a setback in the polls under the then party leader David Cameron during the 2010 election campaign.

Tory lead over Labor has fallen from 15pts to 6pts in less than a week, according to the latest YouGov / Times voting intention survey

Con 44% (-4 since 19 May)
Lab 38% (+5)
Lib Dem 6% (-) https://t.co/9j45CP4dB1 pic.twitter.com/5BZ5EwLBnz

- YouGov (@YouGov) May 26, 2020

Corona crisis: Mortality in the UK is extremely high 

This is probably also because the number of deaths with Covid-19 in the UK has exceeded the 47,000 mark, according to the latest available data. However, as a look at mortality shows, the actual death toll from the corona virus is likely to be even higher. Almost 60,000 more people died during the epidemic than the five-year average of the comparable period.

In a late-afternoon video conference , Johnson was asked to answer MEPs' questions about the Cummings affair and the government's crisis management in the Corona crisis. So far, Johnson has remained loyal to his chief advisor. Johnson's sister Rachel said in an interview with ITV that she apologized for Cumming. Cummings has not done that either.

Corona affair over Johnson's chief adviser: First minister resigns in protest

Update from Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 1:45 p.m .: The escapade by Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings continues to cause great excitement in Great Britain . There is now also a first resignation: Scotland Secretary of State Douglas Ross took his hat in protest against Cumming's behavior in the Corona crisis. 

Cumming's interpretation of the exit restrictions "most people who follow government rules cannot understand," Ross wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson . "I have voters who couldn't say goodbye to their loved ones, families who couldn't mourn together, people who didn't visit their sick relatives because they followed government rules," said Ross. He couldn't tell everyone they were wrong and Cummings right. 

I haven't commented publicly on the situation with Dominic Cummings as I have waited to hear the full details. I welcome the statement to clarify matters, but there remains aspects of the explanation which I have trouble with. As a result I have resigned as a government Minister. pic.twitter.com/6yXLyMzItJ

- Douglas Ross MP (@ Douglas4Moray) May 26, 2020

Other Conservative Tory MPs see it very similarly. The number of Tory MPs calling for Cummings' resignation continues to rise every hour. According to Sky News journalist Joe Pike, 14 MPs have so far called for the chief adviser's resignation .

NEW: 14.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson (@ John4Carlisle) tells me his position remains unchanged on Dominic Cummings. And he should go.

- Joe Pike (@joepike) May 26, 2020

British whistle on Corona rules: beaches completely crowded on public holidays

Update from Tuesday, May 26th, 11.30 a.m .: Things went up in Bournemouth on Monday. It was a public holiday in the UK and the weather was great. Magnificent sunshine and temperatures of just under 26 degrees lured people outdoors - despite all the corona restrictions . The beaches of Durley and Alum Chine in particular were overcrowded. 

The situation developed to such an extreme level that the Bournemouth City Council called for moderation via Twitter. “Our parking spaces by the sea are full. Please think twice before visiting the beach - there are other, less busy, but equally beautiful open spaces to enjoy. It would be better, of course, if you stayed at home. "

❗ Our seafront car parks are full ❗ Please #ThinkTwice before visiting the beach - there are other less busy but equally lovely open spaces to enjoy or please #stayhome. If you do go out, please avoid parking in local roads or breaching traffic regulations and risking a fine.

- BCP Council (@BCPCouncil) May 25, 2020

But what can you expect if high-ranking government members do not abide by their own corona rules ? "If Cummings can break the rules, we can," said a bather to the Daily Mirror newspaper. The ignorance of Boris Johnson's chief adviser thus contributed significantly to the Bournemouth crowd.    

I could comment on whether this is wise or wonder how gridlocked the traffic was when all these people headed to Bournemouth. But the thing that shocks me the most is how anyone could enjoy this.
My idea of ​​hell. Too many people pic.twitter.com/4Jv8GP2TbN

- Tree Cop (@ResponsePS) May 26, 2020

Corona affair in Great Britain: Boris Johnson under pressure 

First message from Monday, May 25th: London - In Great Britain, the clocks tick a little differently. This has not only been known since Brexit . Even in the Corona crisis , some things are a little different on the island than in the rest of the world. A few weeks ago, scientist Neil Ferguson had to resign from his position as a government advisor. And why? Because the epidemiologist had disregarded the pandemic containment rules.

Great Britain: Scientist violates corona rules 

It was a bit of a surprise, after all, Ferguson led the group of scientists at Imperial College, London, whose calculations had caused Boris Johnson's government to introduce strict distance rules, contact closures, and exit restrictions.

Nevertheless, Ferguson continued his affair with a 38-year-old who is said to have visited him several times. "I acted in the belief that I was immune," said Ferguson. However, it was not. He tested positive for the virus and then went into isolation for two weeks.

Chief Advisor Dominic Cummings does not adhere to exit restrictions 

And now it's Dominic Cummings' turn. Boris Johnson's chief adviser  also violated the exit restrictions at the end of March when he traveled from London to family members to Durham, some 430 kilometers away. The campaign strategist is considered a kind of government puller who is highly intelligent and at the same time unpredictable.

The excitement is correspondingly great. The police fear the consequences for their work: Cummings' behavior has mocked the implementation of the pandemic measures , said a police representative in the southern English county of Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, the doctor Dominic Pimenta tweeted a photo of himself in full protective gear and wrote: "If he (Cummings) doesn't leave the service, I will do it." 

This is me right now heading back into the covid ICU I've worked for the last two months.
This stuff is hot and hard work.

Haven't seen my parents since January.

Frankly, Cummings spits in the face of all our efforts, the whole #NHS.

If he doesn't resign, I will. pic.twitter.com/1EfzeuOHnq

- Dr Dominic Pimenta (@juniordrblog) May 24, 2020

Cummings affair: Johnson consultant rejects criticism

But Cummings rejects the massive criticism of his trip. "I don't regret what I did," said the government's second-most powerful man on Monday in the rose garden at the London headquarters. He had acted "reasonably and appropriately" according to the circumstances, said Cummings, who gave the reason for his trip that he had no other way of ensuring that his four-year-old son was looked after. He wanted to take care of his child because his wife had contracted Covid-19 and he also had to count on being infected himself.

+

Dominic Cummings traveled more than 400 kilometers to his parents despite the lockdown when he suffered from Covid 19 symptoms.

© picture alliance / dpa / Jonathan Brady

"I didn't offer to resign. No, I didn't think about resigning, ”said Cummings , who also didn't apologize for his behavior at the press conference. However, he expressed regret that he had not asked Boris Johnson for permission to travel: "That was a mistake."

Boris Johnson strengthens Cummings' back and comes under pressure himself

Boris Johnson has so far given Cummings his back. Cummings "followed every father's instincts," said Johnson. He couldn't pillor him for that. According to Johnson, his chief adviser acted "responsibly, legally, and with integrity".

But with this backing, Johnson is now under increasing pressure. In addition to the opposition, over a dozen Johnson Conservative MPs, church officials and doctors have now called for Cumming's resignation . The prime minister treats people "like jerks" and "without respect," tweeted Bishop of Leeds Nicholas Baines. In addition to him, many other clergymen from the Church of England criticized Johnson and Cumming's behavior. 

The question now is: do we accept being song to, patronized and treated by a PM as mugs? The moral question is not for Cummings - it is for PM and ministers / MPs who find this behavior acceptable. What are we to teach our children? (I ask as a responsible father.)

- Nick Baines (@nickbaines) May 24, 2020

Support for Johnson and Cummings is also crumbling in the Tory party

The Daily Mail newspaper headlined Monday's pictures of Johnson and Cummings : "What planet do they actually live on?" Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer told the BBC: "It was a big test for the Prime Minister and he is just failed. "

Support is also crumbling in the Tory party . Former State Secretary Paul Maynard called the behavior of the chief adviser "completely unsustainable". MP David Warburton said in a BBC interview on Monday that Cummings "is harming the government and the country." 

cs with agencies

* fr.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network

Rubric list picture: © picture alliance / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-05-28

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