Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed his roadmap to exiting lockdown on Monday – the big plan to finally guide England out of restrictions and back towards something like ordinary life.
Speculation in the days prior to the speech on 22 February had been rife, with the PM confirming he wanted this to be the final time the country required a lockdown.
Unveiling his roadmap, Johnson revealed there would be four steps involved – with different sectors opening at various stages from now until June.
Johnson acknowledged that whilst the UK would “not eradicate this disease” permanently, the rapid rollout of the vaccine means that the nation is “travelling on a one-way road to freedom”.
The PM’s regular COVID press conference flankers Professor Christ Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance were also cautiously optimistic when reflecting on the roadmap, but admitted it did involve a degree of risk.
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Under the current plan, masks, social distancing measures and all COVID legislature could be completely lifted by June 21 – but Vallance did warn these measures may need to come back in winter if cases rise again.
Nonetheless, if the strategy succeeds, England will be free of restrictions within 17 weeks.
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Here’s what that full roadmap looks like.
Yesterday I set out our four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England and provide a route back to a more normal way of life.
On Monday 8th March, schools and colleges across England will reopen, and teaching in classrooms can start again.
Meeting with a friend for coffee is permitted from March 8 – Image: Karen Cantú Q via Unsplash
The first changes to COVID rules will commence from March 8.
From this date, all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and college.
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March 8 will also offer more social freedoms – with people permitted to visit one other person for socialising, not just exercise.
Care home residents in England will also be allowed one regular visitor from March 8.
Restrictions on meeting others will be relaxed further in time for the Easter break.
From March 29, six people or two separate households/families will be allowed to meet in private gardens or outdoors.
Outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, may also reopen from March 29.
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The official Stay at Home Order will end on this date – although many lockdown restrictions will remain in force.
People will still be encouraged to work from home where possible, with the vast majority of overseas travel banned.
Step 2 – April 12
Beer gardens will reopen on April 12 / Image: ELEVATE via Pexels
The second step is a big one for many businesses.
April 12 is the date where a wide variety of sectors will be allowed to reopen their doors, including shops, hairdressers, barbers, gyms, animal centres, and accommodation centres.
Pubs will also be permitted to serve people in outdoor settings.
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The list of places able to reopen from April 12 (at the earliest) include:
Non-essential retail, such as shops.
Personal care premises, such as hairdressers and nail salons.
Public buildings, such as libraries and community centres.
Most outdoor attractions and settings, including zoos, and theme parks.
Drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances.
Indoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools.
Hospitality venues can serve customers outdoors only for table service. Regulations around substantial meals and curfews have been abolished.
Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets.
Funerals can continue with up to 30 people.
Weddings, receptions and wake attendance limits will rise to 15 (from 6)..
Step 3 – May 17
International travel could be allowed by May / Image: Pixabay
Step three is the point at which most social contact rules will be lifted in outdoor settings.
Gatherings with more than 30 people, however, will remain illegal.
This is also the date when indoor pubs can reopen, with spectators returning to live events.
International travel – including holidays – may also be allowed from this point, subject to review.
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The full list of places reopening on this date is as follows:
Cinemas, soft play areas, and the rest of the accommodation sector including hotels and B&Bs.
Indoor adult group sports and exercise classes classes can resume.
Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed.
Performances will be permitted in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).
In the largest outdoor seated venues where crowds can spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
Weddings, receptions, wakes, funerals attendance limits will be 30 people.
Step 4 – June 21
Nightclubs are set to reopen on June 21 after being closed for over a year / Image: Harrison Haines / Pexels
This is the date that “all legal limits on social contact can be removed.”
On this date, all remaining venues will reopen.
This includes nightclubs – which will have been shut for 15 months by the time they are allowed to welcome back customers again.
All restrictions on performances and events will also be removed on June 21.
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Social distancing measures may be removed from this date.
BREAKING: The 4 steps to lifting lockdown in England.
There will be weeks between each step: 4 weeks to reflect on the data followed by 1 week notice to be given to relevant sectors and the public. pic.twitter.com/7RTql0pV7S
The richest people in the North West have been revealed, featuring Harry Styles, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Gallaghers
Daisy Jackson
The Sunday Times Rich List has been published today, revealing the wealthiest person in the North West to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The annual list highlights the richest people in the UK, often filled with famous faces and business moguls.
This year, the 350 individuals on the list hold a combined wealth of £783.5 billion – that’s about a quarter of the UK’s total annual GDP.
The Sunday Times Rich List also highlighted other North West figures, such as Harry Styles, the Issa brothers, and Tyson Fury.
Other famous faces from elsewhere in the UK include Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, JK Rowling, Charlotte Tilbury and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
It found that Sir Jim Ratcliffe – chemicals magnate, Ineos CEO, and Manchester United shareholder – still tops the list regionally despite falling revenues and a £515.7 million loss.
Mohsin and Zuber Issa are fourth on the list of the wealthiest in the North West – the Blackburn billionaire brothers founded the EG Group petrol stations, and acquired the supermarket giant Asda.
Betfred brothers Fred and Peter Done come next, with an estimated net wealth of £3.6bn.
Property developer and Renaker founder (Renaker is behind the Deansgate Square towers) Daren Whitaker saw his wealth grow by £100m in a single year.
Elsewhere on the list are Liam and Noel Gallagher, making their Sunday Times Rich List debut at £375 million.
Michael and George Heaton, the British brothers behind the Represent streetwear brand, paid themselves minimum wage for a decade before selling a stake and making £18.5m each.
Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said: “This year’s Rich List is a tale of two exoduses. One in six of the individuals and families who appeared on the list two years ago don’t feature this time.
“Many foreign billionaires who have been living in the UK have also dropped out because they have moved away. We have also seen a sharp rise in the number of British nationals now resident in Dubai, Switzerland and Monaco. As UK nationals these people remain on our Rich List — wherever they now live.
“These two exoduses pose challenges for the UK economy and its public finances. Will more of the wealthy now set up or grow their ventures overseas and in doing so create fewer jobs here? How much tax — if any — will Rachel Reeves’s Treasury be able to extract from those affluent Brits who have now left the country?
“For nearly 40 years the Sunday Times Rich List has analysed the fortunes of Britain’s most affluent people. We believe understanding where wealth lies and where it is being accumulated is a vital part of a functioning democracy.
“Over the years our research has told us a lot about our country, charting the way a generation of largely self-made entrepreneurs overtook the old money of the landed gentry.
“This year’s edition shines a light on fortunes made from artificial intelligence, driverless cars and crypto-currencies as well as baby milk, make-up, hoodies and other everyday items. We know many of our readers find those rags-to-riches stories of entrepreneurs who started out with little more than a laptop and an idea particularly inspiring.”
Man jailed for 10 years after raping ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman multiple times in Manchester city centre.
Benjamin Wilson, of Norwood Avenue in Chesterfield, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being found guilty of offences committed in Manchester city centre back in June 2022, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
The victim – who was described as being ‘extremely vulnerable and intoxicated’ – plucked up the courage to go on a night out with friends in Manchester, however she became separated from them and was later subjected to a serious sexual assault, which was linked to a suspected drink spiking.
During the evening, the victim – whose identity has been withheld – and her friend believed their drinks had been tampered with, and she later found herself alone, heavily intoxicated, and extremely vulnerable, before she came into contact with Wilson near a takeaway.
Wilson took advantage of the situation, guiding her into a taxi before repeatedly raping her at a flat in Manchester.
The following morning, he dropped her near the hotel where she had been due to stay with her friend, and she proceeded to report the incident to police shortly afterwards.
A man has been jailed for 10 years after raping an ‘extremely vulnerable’ woman in Manchester city centre / Credit: GMP
From the outset, investigators said they faced ‘significant challenges’ – including limited early forensic opportunities and issues securing CCTV footage, all while needing to prioritise the victim’s wellbeing.
Hundreds of hours of work went into analysing witness accounts, financial and phone data, intelligence checks, and overcoming cross-force barriers leading to Wilson’s arrest in Derbyshire.
“The case was ultimately built through meticulous investigation, persistence, and, crucially, the strength and courage of the victim’s testimony,” GMP said.
Speaking following Wilson’s sentencing this week, DC Phillip Sargeant, of GMP’s Longsight CID, commented: “I am awestruck not only by the courage of the victim in coming forward, but also by her patience and resilience in waiting for justice.
The Manc -
23rd February 2021 
