The Prime Minister is expected to outline his plans to Parliament for the reopening of pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers next month.
Boris Johnson will discuss England’s approach to the changes with the COVID-19 Strategy Committee today.
The PM will give an update on the next stage of easing lockdown guidelines in Parliament on Tuesday and is also widely expected to reveal the outcome of a review to the two-metre social distancing rule.
In line with the government’s roadmap for lifting the lockdown, 4th July marks the start of “phase three”.
This phase is expected to give some businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors the green light to reopen to the public and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has previously stated that England is “clearly on track” to further ease these lockdown restrictions.
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A spokesperson for No. 10 also said: “The reason we are able to move forward this week is because the vast majority of people have taken steps to contain the virus.”
“The more we open up, the more important it is that everyone follows the social distancing rules.”
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“We will not hesitate to put the handbrake on to stop the virus running out of control.”
Wikimedia Commons
Speaking to Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Matt Hancock stated that the next phase could include pubs and restaurants reopening, as well as people being able to get haircuts again.
He said: “We’re clearly on track for that plan because of the number of cases coming down and the plan does refer to hospitality and some of the other things that are closed that so many people want to see open”.
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Government ministers are now believed to be looking at a number of measures to ensure reopening is “safe”.
When it comes to the two-metre social distancing rule, Security Minister, James Brokenshire indicated that a reduction in the two-metre social distancing rule could also be combined with other measures being introduced for some settings, such as face coverings or separating barriers.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Brokenshire said: “I understand that real urgency, that desire, whether it’s for haircuts, whether it’s to go out and get a meal to be able to socialise”.
“It’s just that clarity on doing that in a way that does not impact or risk further issues around public health and, obviously, the second spike that we are determined to avoid, so there is a lot that will be brought together in terms of all of those different elements.”
He also indicated that the government would informed in making this decision by by scientific evidence and also “experience [from] around the world”.
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For further guidance, support and information amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus here.
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According to the latest figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care, a total of 42,632 people have sadly died after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of 9am 21 June, there have been 7,890,145 tests, with 175,018 tests on 20 June.
304,331 people have tested positive.
As of 5pm on 20 June, of those tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 42,632 have sadly died.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 21, 2020
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Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
The Manc -
22nd June 2020 
