On Sunday, France made the decision to close its borders with the UK for 48 hours – which put a stop to the movement of all lorries, flights and ferries – with a significant number of vehicles experiencing prolonged hold-ups at the Kent border.
It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed last week that a “new variant” of coronavirus has been detected in the UK, with a significant spread noted in London and areas of the South East.
France has since said it will aim “to ensure movement from the UK can resume”.
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Beginning the conference by offering an update, Mr Johnson said: “These delays are only occurring at Dover, only affect human-handled freight and that is only 20% of the total arriving from or departing to the European continent,”
He assured people that vast majority of food and medical supplies are unaffected, and says the government has been preparing for such a situation for a while.
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Mr Johnson said the government continues to have talks with French officials.
He stated that he understands worries over COVID transmission by EU countries, but says the “risks of transmission by a solitary driver sitting alone in the cab are very low”.
He also added that UK supermarkets’ supply chains “are strong and robust”, and because of this, “everyone can continue to shop normally”, as he says he understands concerns of international partners about new strain, but the UK took “prompt and decisive action” to curb its spread.
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The press conference comes amid an increasing number of countries having chosen to ban all flights from the UK, including Belgium, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Denmark, Poland, Bulgaria, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Hong Kong, India, Canada, Romania and more, with others expected as likely to follow.
The Czech Republic has imposed stricter quarantine measures for people arriving from Britain, and Turkey and Morocco have announced they will be suspending air travel from the UK, while Saudi Arabia is also believed to be looking into suspending international flights for one week.
El Salvador is also barring entry to anyone who has visited the UK in the preceding 30 days.
Offering further reassurance, Mr Johnson also announced that more than 500,000 people in the UK have now received their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
He says: “We want to work with our colleagues, with our friends around the world, as we have from the beginning, to develop new treatments, to develop new vaccines, as we have [and] I can today announce that over half a million people, more than 500,000 people in the UK, have now received their first dose.”
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.
Man charged in connection with broad daylight murder of 51-year-old woman in Tameside last year
Emily Sergeant
A man has been charged in connection with the tragic murder of 51-year-old woman in Tameside last year.
Michelle Hodgkinson had been walking along Edge Lane in the Droylsden area of Tameside on Friday 2 June 2023 when she was approached by a male and stabbed to death in broad daylight.
The 51-year-old had was said to have just been going about her day, and was walking to meet her mum so that she could take her shopping when the horrific incident occurred, and although emergency services rushed to the scene, despite their best efforts, she was pronounced dead a short while later.
— Tameside South and West Police (GMP) (@GMPTamesideS) June 4, 2023
But now, following a lengthy investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Major Incident Team, a man has been charged with murder in connection with Michelle’s death.
Paul Hughes, 29, was yesterday (Tuesday 7 May) charged with murder, GMP has confirmed, and he has been remanded in a secure mental health hospital, where he remains under treatment.
He will next appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates court on Thursday 6 June.
Commenting on the charging of Mr Hughes, Detective Inspector Danny Lee, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, took a moment to stress to the Greater Manchester public that Michelle’s death is a “very rare type of incident”.
#CHARGED | We have charged a man with murder after a lengthy investigation and continue to appeal for any further evidence.
This was after Michelle Hodgkinson was sadly stabbed and died from her injuries in #Droylsden back in June 2023.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 7, 2024
DI Lee explained: “We understand this tragedy may have increased the community concerns in relation to knife crime, but we would like to stress this is a very rare type of incident. However, at the heart of this incident, a loved one has been torn away, and our thoughts remain with Michelle’s family, whom we continue to support with specialist officers.”
Following Mr Hughes’ charging, GMP has also reissued its public appeal for information, and is urging any witnesses to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 1353 of 02/06/2023, or information can be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.