"People will be able to meet and sit down with a single other person outdoors as long as they stay two metres apart"

[TalkingIntoTheEther]

From the Guardian press briefing following the PM's speech:

More immediately, people in England will be allowed to sit in the parks within their household groups, to drive to beauty spots for walks and take unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise. People will be able to meet and sit down with a single other person outdoors as long as they stay two metres apart . Angling, swimming in lakes or rivers, tennis and golf will all be allowed if people are sticking to their household groups.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/10/boris-johnson-coronavirus-lockdown-shops-schools-june-reopening

Strange that something so significant would be in a press briefing but not read out, or am I reading it wrong?

From Twitter - it has been briefed to political journalists that, from Wednesday, a single member of one household can meet with a single member of another household, eg in a park, as long as they remain two metres away from each other.

What's legal definition of "gathering"?

Clearly Boris can't cover every scenario in a 15 min speech but I can guarantee when the detailed advice comes out the answer is no.

Mobile hairdressers should not be working because they put themselves and their clients at risk because they cannot socially distance.

There's no point going over Boris' speech to determine the answer - it's the detailed document that will be the answer.

Hence why changes are coming in place from Weds to allow people to read the detail.

That was overridden by the Govt declaring that we each are only allowed to leave the house once for exercise and that that exercise can only be undertaken with members of the same household.

Strange. Legislation trumps any guidelines rather than the other way about.

The BBC website is saying households can meet up as long as 2m apart. Nothing about it being a max. Of 2 people

@Deux

The relevant legislation states:

Restrictions on movement
6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—
(a)
to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money, including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;
(b)
to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

So it clearly states you can only leave home for certain circumstances and one of those is for exercise alone or with your own household.

This is statutory legislation and has been consistent throughout the lockdown.

It is not a 'guideline'

So you can chat with a neighbour over the fence then.

Honestly I'm shocked that you think it was just a guideline and presumably haven't been following it for 7 weeks despite the message being repeated billions of times?

No wonder we still have so many cases every day!

From BBC news website

The BBC understands that the changes in the guidelines will mean two people from different households would be able to meet while sitting more than two metres apart in a park...

And have a gathering of 2 when on your walk/exercise. Oh whoops there’s my friend out on her exercise.

Wheremymojo, you assume wrong.

I noticed that as well, but am waiting for the proper guidance to come out tomorrow. There have been far too many things printed as "fact" in papers recently to take believe anything until it's official.

So you can stand still with one other person (who is outside your household) that is not a breach but if you begin to move (which could be deemed to be exercise - although exercise isn't defined in legislation either) you're breaking the law

And have a gathering of 2 when on your walk/exercise. Oh whoops there’s my friend out on her exercise.

No, you can't. It's pretty bloody clear on that.

Why are you being such a knob?

If you want to start an argument pick one where you actually know the legislation perhaps...

I'm not responding to any more of your comments. Go lick lampposts for all I care...because that isn't against legislation so you can totally do that.

Now, now. No need for the name calling. Tsk.

Glad to hear you’re no longer replying. Phew.

I'm following all legislation and guidelines but I feel for the police and how difficult it must be for them to enforce. If they take someone to court the summons must be clear and the breach of legislation must be clear. There have already been two cases where the wrong legislation was relied upon.

Another example is the minister saying HRW can open - not expressly referred to in legislation therefore someone travelling there to dump waste could be fined. Police have expressed their frustration that ministers are unofficially amending laws. Police are now agreeing not to enforce. Police don't know where they stand.

It's not a perfect science I understand but the mixed messages and unclear laws are breeding confusion and not inspiring confidence in the government (I think)

@Haplap I thought that article was excellent and the sort of detail that feels like had been lacking in helping us understand the true risk!
She deals with schools briefly in the comments but would be great to read more of her thoughts on that.

Its on the prime ministers ambitions not for now. I also misread it in the Guardian but that is a future ambition