By Ben Kerrigan-
The new coronavirus rules in England banning social gatherings of more than six people will not be kept in place “any longer than we have to”, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said today.
“This sacrifice is vital to control the virus for the long term,” he told MPs.
The law which comes into force on Monday is to be enforced through a £100 fine. The new “rule of six” was set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, as the UK reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day.
It applies both indoors and outdoors and to all ages , although there are some exemptions, such as gatherings for work.
“As the chief medical officer said yesterday, we must learn from the recent experience of countries like Belgium who successfully put in place these measures to combat a similar rise in infections,” said Mr Hancock in Parliament on Thursday.
“These are not measures that we take lightly. I understand that for many they’ll mean changing long-awaited plans or missing out on precious moments with loved ones, but this sacrifice is vital to control the virus for the long term and save lives.
“And I vow that we will not keep these rules in place for any longer than we have to.”
Earlier, Mr Hancock’s colleague, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said if everybody followed the rules “we may well be by Christmas in a position to look at it again”.
Former government adviser Prof Neil Ferguson said it will take about “two to three weeks” to see what effect the social distancing measures have.
“So we need to wait at this point and see how much we flatten the curve and then if that’s not sufficient to bring the reproduction number below one, so the epidemic starts shrinking again, then yes, we may need to clamp down on other areas,” he added.
The British government said it is trying to protect the UK’s internal market and the Northern Ireland peace process.
Trade talks between the UK’s Brexit negotiator Lord Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier continue after alarm was made on Mr Johnson’s proposed Internal Market Bill, which was published on Wednesday.
It addresses the Northern Ireland Protocol – an element of the withdrawal agreement designed to prevent a hard border returning to the island of Ireland.
The bill proposes no new checks on goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. It gives UK ministers powers to modify or “disapply” rules relating to the movement of goods that will come into force from 1 January, if the UK and EU are unable to strike a trade deal.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said he would “ensure the integrity of the UK internal market” and hand power to Scotland and Wales, while protecting the Northern Ireland peace process.
Mps on the other side of the fence say the move will damage UK’s international reputation following claims that the plans break international law.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was “very concerned” following the tabling of the bill in Parliament, and that such actions “undermine trust” with the EU.” It could lead to legal action.
Legal analysis circulated among EU member states found that the Internal Market Bill would breach the Brexit deal and could “open the way” for the EU to take legal action against the UK.