Rule of 6 issues

[PinotMa]

My MIL insists that babies are not included in the rule of 6 as she is desperate for her sister to attend a family meet up alongside FIL and her other son. From all I can read the law in England is that babies and children are included and we don't want to break the law. The .gov website doesnt seem to word it as such but various news outlets do. Has anyone in England clarified this?

It has been clarified and you are correct, babies and children are included in the 6.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

Point 2.4.

Children are included. That’s it.

In England and Northern Ireland all humans regardless of size/ age are counted as one, Wales, Scotland differ children excluded - so depends what border you live in.

Children are included and it’s also only 2 households so even if they weren’t, she isn’t allowed to do what she is planning

Apologies actually I think I may be confusing Scottish and English rules there!
But babies do count unfortunately

Can they all drive to Wales or Scotland?

Exceptions are support bubble households, which might just mean a household with a lone occupant that another household supports to reduce loneliness, but then it is just two households if numbers exceed 6, but that's the exception.

You can hold the family reunion in two halves to not exceed numbers or send men to pub or women to pub.........

Actually this brings another question. We're 6 in our household, about to be 7! My mum is coming to help (we need the help...) but that makes 8.... would she be considered "support bubble"? (Sounds like those emotional support pets they have in the US )

@grey12 nope. Your mum would be counted as an extra person as far as I know. She technically would be breaking the law by stepping foot in the door ..... which is ridiculous IMO but anyway.

Is your mum single?

Also @nixen it's not 2 households, at least not in England. It can be 6 single people from 6 different households, or 3 couples from 3 households, but not a family of 5 and 2 grandparents from 2 households. Its just 6 people.

@SqidgeBum yes I did follow my post immediately saying i was getting confused with the Scottish rules.
I’m Scottish but live in England.
It’s bullshit that there are different rules to be quite honest

Thanks @SqidgeBum! I think you might be right...

[stage wisper] I think I'm just going to have to break the law.

My mum would go insane if she couldn't come!!! I wouldn't hear the end of it!!!

@grey12 Surely your mum counts as part of the household while she’s staying there. By the time she needs to leave, the rule will be different. But if she’s there for a couple of weeks acting as part of your household, that’s different from popping in daily for a more-than-six-people social then going home and other places.

Surely your mum counts as part of the household while she’s staying there.

She isn’t allowed to stay there under the rule of six (unless she’s a single adult).

I agree @nixen. Its complete bullshit. I cant see anyone willing to comply to not having their mother or father over to their house when a single person can have 5 mates around for a session.

@grey12 I would never every judge you for breaking this law. I will be in a similar position to you soon.

@grey12 if your Mum is single, then you can be her 'support bubble'. If she has a partner living with her, then you can't.

@grey12
i think there's an exemption for providing 'care' of some kind (not just regular childcare) which could be fine in this case but either way nobody would judge you for what you're planning to do

If your mum ‘moves in’ with you then she is part of your household.

Nobody worth listening too will begrudge a postnatal women her mum’s help.

Just plead the Cummings Exemption - do what you like as long as it’s for child care.

Thanks for the support everyone

@SilenceOfThePrams you made me laugh! I'll remember that one