Boris Johnson has rejected calls to keep gyms, tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools open during England’s pending four-week national lockdown.
Under the new restrictions – which will be voted on in Parliament on Wednesday and are expected to come into force at 00:01 GMT on Thursday 5th November – the prime minister has ordered indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities to close for the four week duration.
A number of sporting bodies have thus sought to challenge the government’s shutdown of these facilities.
But in an address to MPs in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, Mr Johnson offered them little hope of success and instead suggested that unpicking parts of the lockdown would mean “the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised”.
When questioned on the matter by a number of MPs, Mr Johnson insisted that it is “difficult to take out one part of the Jenga block without disturbing the whole package”.
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James Sunderland – Conservative MP for Bracknell – told the Prime Minister he had been contacted by many constituents concerned about the closure of gyms, golf clubs and tennis clubs and went on to ask: “Given the proven benefits of exercise and the lack of any clear evidence that these activities have contributed to an increase in the R rate, might the prime minister be willing to reconsider the current guidance within the next four weeks?,”
But Mr Johnson replied: “Once you unpick at one thing, alas, the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised.
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He continued: “That is why I want everybody to work together for the next four weeks, as I say, to get the R under control so that we can open things up again in time for December.”
Boris Johnson is pressed on the science behind the decision to close gyms and golf clubs, despite efforts to ensure they are Covid-safe
Another Tory MP, Stephen Metcalfe, asked the Prime Minister to review the rules around socially distanced outdoor sports such as golf and tennis, and Labour MP Kevan Jones – who highlighted the “valiant efforts” of golf clubs and gyms to ensure they are COVID-safe – urged Mr Johnson to publish the scientific data behind the decision to close such sports facilities.
When pressed further by Conservative MP Peter Aldous who asked the Prime Minister to rethink the rules on activities “that can take place in a socially distanced and responsible way”, such as outdoor swimming, Mr Johnson said the government would “look at any exceptions that we can sensibly make”,
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But then added: “It is difficult to take out one part of the Jenga block without disturbing the whole package.”
The resisting of these calls came after Mr Johnson defended the decision to introduce the regional three tier system in October following a growing number of senior Conservative backbenchers signalling their opposition to the measures due to come into effect on Thursday, and despite Labour stating that his failure to act sooner will have cost lives and caused further damage to the economy.
Setting out why the lockdown is now needed, Mr Johnson said to MPs: “At the end of four weeks, on Wednesday 2nd December, we will seek to ease restrictions, going back into the tiered system on a local and regional basis according to the latest data and trends.”
He continued: “Models of our scientists suggest that unless we act now, we could see deaths over the winter that are twice as bad or more compared with the first wave.”
“Faced with these latest figures, there is no alternative but to take further action at a national level.”
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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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Pair jailed after filming themselves driving over 130mph before killing man in fatal Manchester collision
Emily Sergeant
Two men who filmed themselves driving at speeds of over 130mph before a fatal collision earlier this year have now been jailed.
20-year-old Uways Hussain, of Marley Road in Manchester, has been sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison, while 23-year-old Usmon Mahmood, of Buller Road in Manchester, has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months.
Their sentences follow a night of what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) called ‘dangerous driving’ around the South Manchester area, which started at around 11pm on the evening before the collision.
The vehicle – a Volkswagon Golf – belonged to Mahmood, but he allowed Hussain to drive the vehicle at high-speed throughout the night.
On the evening prior to the collision, beginning at around 11pm, Hussain and Mahmood were driving recklessly around the South Manchester area.
According to police, the pair filmed themselves consistently travelling at speeds of over 100mph on 30mph roads, and in several cases, theyvreached over 130mph and seconds before impact, were recorded at 139mph.
Recorded footage also showed them running red lights and weaving through traffic with no regard for the safety of other road users or pedestrians.
At one stage during the night, the pair stopped at a petrol station, where footage shows Mahmood inhaling from a balloon in the passenger seat, while later o Hussain can be seen doing over 100mph and also appearing to be inhaling from a balloon while driving.
The fatal collision happened at around 4:36am on Monday 9 March 2026 at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway, where the victim – Sylvester Abayomi, 50 – was on his way to work and entered the junction on a green light, believing it was safe to proceed, but was then struck by the car being driven by Hussain, which had travelled through a red light at extremely high speed.
Sylvester Abayomi / Credit: GMP
Immediately following the collision, GMP received several emergency calls and an automatic alert from Hussain’s Apple Watch saying he had been involved in a collision.
During this alert, both men could be heard discussing plans to flee the scene and attempting to decide what evidence they needed to remove from the vehicle. They were also heard discussing reporting the vehicle as stolen, and shortly afterwards, they booked an Uber to escape.
Emergency services attended the scene, but sadly, despite their best efforts, Sylvester sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead.
GMP says it received its first report of the incident at 4:37am,, and within 12 minutes the pair had been located, caught, and arrested by officers.
DC Thomas Johnson, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, described the incident as ‘one of the most extreme cases of dangerous driving we have encountered’.
It’s also believed that this is one of the first times in the country where a passenger has been convicted for aid and abetting causing death by dangerous driving.
Featured Image – GMP
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Stockport band Blossoms set for BIG return to Leeds Festival this year
Thomas Melia
Blossoms have just announced their big return to Leeds Festival, as the four-day music event continues to impress with its stacked lineup.
They might have a ‘Joke About Divorce’ from time to time, but when it comes to entertaining a Leeds Festival crowd, Blossoms take it very seriously, having played at Bramham Park three times in the past decade already.
The Stockport band have captivated audiences since the rise of standout track ‘Charlemagne’ and more recently with the addition of their fifth studio album, Gary, named after an eight-foot fiberglass gorilla.
Known for always putting on a stellar performance, Tom, Joe, Charlie, Myles, and Josh are bringing a brand-new set to Leeds when they visit this August bank holiday weekend.
As well as releasing new music, Blossoms are making a big return to Leeds Festival 2026 / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Currently, Leeds Festival 2026 has seven headline acts spanning all genres from Dance and EDM to Pop and Rap with the likes of Charli XCX, Raye, Dave and more topping the bill.
The Stockport five-piece are featured alongside three other insane artists as ‘Special Guests’, appearing next to Skepta, Sombr and Role Model.
Also listed on the lineup are rising stars like R&B vocal powerhouse Skye Newman, pop princess Jade, Merseyside indie rockers The K’s and Wigan-formed The Lilacs with more to be announced.
Although nothing is confirmed yet, this upcoming Leeds Festival set from Blossoms will contain high energy and obviously all their biggest and best bangers from across their four chart topping albums as well as new music.
Whether you’re there for ‘Your Girlfriend’ or ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry’, one thing’s for sure, you’re guaranteed to have an absolutely spectacular night.
Blossoms are making their big return to Leeds Festival 2026 which is taking place from 27 to 30 August at Bramham Park with tickets live HERE.
The Manc -
3rd November 2020 
