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”.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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”,
ADVERTISEMENT
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.”
ADVERTISEMENT
___
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.
#HandsFaceSpace
News
What people are wearing at Parklife 2026 – ruffles, cowboy boots, football shirts and bandanas
Clementine Hall
Parklife weekend is here, which means festival fashion is back, and Manchester has absolutely delivered on its outfit trends once again.
Every year in the fields of Heaton Park, thousands of ravers flock to Parklife festival for the biggest party of the year.
And of course, you can’t attend a festival without wearing a fire fit and boy oh boy have we seen some.
Gone are the days when you’d throw on a t shirt and jeans to a festival, and although you may see a few tracksuits and flimsy rain ponchos (we are in Manchester after all), the people of Parklife are dressing to impress this year.
Images: The Manc Group
The main theme of the weekend is…ruffles.
We’re talking ruffled shorts, ruffled boots, ruffled skirts – if you can ruffle it, the Parklife people are buying it. We’d say the vast majority of girls are wearing ruffled hot pants, and we are absolutely here for it.
Another trend is not practical in the slightest but of course looks absolutely fab, and that is cowboy boots.
Images: The Manc Group
We dread to think of the blisters that are going to crop up after the weekend, but as the old saying goes…beauty is well and truly pain.
You may mistake yourself for being at Coachella due to the amount of girls absolutely rocking a bandana this year, a trend which is both stylish and practical with the sun blaring down on Heaton Park this weekend.
And last but not least, maybe it’s the World Cup fever but we’ve spotted both boys and girls sporting football shirts and looking class whilst doing so.
Images: The Manc Group
All in all, Parklife weekend is flooded with fashionistas this year but are we surprised when Manchester is a hive for the coolest cats in the game? We think not.
There’s also a couple of pop-ups onsite this year for if you’re looking to level up your fit, including Suzy Loves Milo selling vintage garms and The Mothership providing all the perfect accessories.
Take That at the Etihad Stadium – the Manchester boys are ‘back for good’ | Review
Clementine Hall
We’re not saying this was the ‘Greatest Day’ of our lives…but it was certainly up there.
Take That have been taking us all on a trip down memory lane over the past few weeks, bringing The Circus Live back to stadiums across the UK and recreating their record-breaking 2009 tour.
Last night they kicked off their four night run at the Etihad Stadium, and it’s safe to say the much-loved pop trio have absolutely still got it.
In fact, I’d go as far to say that this is the best Gary, Mark and Howard have ever looked, sang, and above all else, danced.
Maybe it’s because this is their first hometown gig in two years, or maybe it’s because I’m extremely biased having grown up listening to Take That in my mum’s car on the way to school.
Either way, I said what I said.
Now as the name suggests, The Circus Live isn’t your average show. There’s a gigantic hot air balloon, a huge mechanical elephant, clown face paint, acrobats, unicycles, fireworks, sparkly costumes, you name it – they’ve got it.
It’s an aggressive assault to the senses, a fantastic fever dream, overstimulation of the highest degree, and I lapped up every single moment.
It’s what I imagine taking a tab of acid feels like before a gig, and if that’s the case then I would recommend doing so.
Of course the boys open the show with ‘Greatest Day’, and from the get go Gary Barlow’s vocals are just as smooth as ever.
After a brief Barry Manilow cover they then showcase their exceptional synchronised choreography during the dance break of ‘Pray’, to which I could almost hear the audible gasps from hundreds of mums in the audience.
All of which, I assume, were transported in that moment back to 1993 when Take That debuted the moves on Top of the Pops.
After a brief pause, Mark Owen leads the lads in ‘Shine’ as they make their way to the second stage in the centre of the stadium. Top hat in hand, Gary on the keys, Howard there purely for vibes – it’s no wonder Morrison’s chose this banger for their advert.
From then on it is simply banger after banger, and it’s clear that they feel very grateful to still be filling out stadiums as Howard particularly gets teary eyed after ‘Never Forget’ is met with roars of applause.
Take That have three more shows left at the Etihad Stadium, and you can still grab some last minute tickets here.
However, if you fancy not moving from your sofa but still want to be a part of the fun – Saturday’s show will be livestreamed across the globe via Amazon Music, so no matter where you are in the world, you can still visit The Circus. Find out more here.
The Manc -
3rd November 2020 
