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COMMUTERS filled roads across the UK this morning after Boris Johnson told Brits to get back to work last night.
But Dominic Raab has since sparked chaos and confusion after suggesting the coronavirus measures should only be put in place from Wednesday.
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In a bid to ease lockdown measures, the PM urged builders and factory workers to return to work as soon as possible – telling them to avoid public transport where possible.
Many workers heeded the advice this morning, as cars took to the M25 near Kent, the M4 near Bristol and queued on the A102 near Greenwich, London.
In central London, commuters flocked to the Underground for work, with crowds seen piling onto the Jubilee line at rush hour.
But Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “What the Prime Minister has done is set out a road map for the next phase.
“Starting this Wednesday, the new measures, the first step measures, will begin.”
His comments suggest workers should only be going to work from Wednesday, raising questions around the days ahead.
CHAOS AND CONFUSION
Mr Raab also said that under the new lockdown rules, Brits can meet up with one friend or family member they don’t live with, as long as they keep their distance.
But the First Secretary of State left listeners baffled when he said one person could meet two of their parents at once.
Mr Raab was asked on Radio 4: “From Wednesday, you can meet one person from outside your household. Does that mean you can’t meet two relatives at the same time, for example, parents?”
I replied: “As from Wednesday, people can go outside to parks and certain sports where you can keep social distancing at 2m, together, with others members from their own home.
“If you are going to the park and you can stay 2m apart, you could meet up with other members of your household.”
He was asked again: “So, you cannot meet two parents at the same time?”
And I added: “You could if they are two meters apart.”
Government sources said that Mr Raab had misspoke, and I meant to say that only members of the same household can all go to the park together.
‘ALL OVER THE PLACE’
Many have criticized the new plans, with Labor leader Keir Starmer labeling the guidelines “all over the place” and starting to “unravel”.
I’ve told LBC Radio this morning: “I was actually quite surprised the Prime Minister said, effectively in 12 hours’ time, start going back to work without those bits in place.
“We needed that clarity and it is unravelling a bit this morning because I think the Foreign Secretary has now said, ‘Well, go back to work doesn’t really mean until Wednesday’, so suddenly it has shifted.”
Piers Morgan has also slammed Government advice, saying: “I can see thousands of strangers in the park but not my own sons.”
He wrote on Twitter: “So, the Prime Minister is urging millions of non-essential workers to go out to work – but also telling people we still can’t see family or friends even if we maintain the same social distancing rules as non- essential workers at work?
“Makes no sense. I can drive 100s of miles to sunbathe alongside complete strangers on a beach, maintaining 2m distance – but not see my parents? This is ridiculous.”
It comes as:
On public transport this morning, people were unable to keep their 2m distance, with one worried commuter writing on Twitter: “One (day) after Boris addressed the nation! Public transport can not enforce social distancing but more people must return to work! How will this ever work? “
Sadiq Khan warned last week it will be difficult to keep social distancing measures on public transport in the capital once the lockdown is lifted.
Transport for London has been running a reduced service over the last six weeks, which the Mayor of London has said is the “maximum” it can provide due to current staffing levels.
And in a statement last night, Mr Khan wrote: “I want to be as clear as possible with Londoners – social distancing measures are still in place.”
I added: “You must not use public transport for any unnecessary journeys. If you really have to travel, please avoid rush hour. Please walk or cycle whenever possible. ”
BACK TO WORK
It comes after Boris urged builders and factory workers to get back to work last night, adding that anyone who cannot work from home should avoid public transport “if at all possible.”
The PM also said that the Government wants to ensure everyone is “safe at work” with new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure.
He said: “We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
“And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.
“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.”
The roads are likely to be busier from now on, after Boris gave the green light to take cars on day trips from Wednesday.
Addressing the nation, the PM said last night: “From this Wednesday we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”
And it’s clear that cooped up Brits have already started to hit the roads.
LOCKDOWN LOWDOWN
From work to exercise – what the easing of lockdown measures really means
THREE’S A CROWD
You can meet 1 family member in park – but Raab sparks MORE confusion
DAY TRIPPERS!
Brits told they can go on day-trips in the car from Wednesday
BABY STEPS
PM reveals ‘first careful steps’ of easing lockdown as part of 3 phase plan
FREE MOVEMENT
People entering UK from France will NOT be quarantined for 2 weeks
She told the daily No 10 press conference: “For motor vehicles what you see is a pattern that looks a bit like commuting because it’s low every weekend and we do worry about that creeping up.
“I think all of us remember that what we’ve done together which is to stay home has worked to protect the NHS and save lives and as one of the people who looks at this data and thinks about how it fits into how we think about the future it does trouble me that the dark blue line [use of motor vehicles] is creeping up again. “
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