Golf and tennis WILL be banned: Michael Gove apologises for suggesting the two outdoor sports could be exempt from new lockdown
Michael Gove was today forced to admit he got new lockdown rules wrong after suggesting golf and singles tennis could still be allowed under the incoming grassroots sports ban.
The Cabinet Office minister said rules on golf and singles tennis would be 'fine-tuned', possibly allowing players to continue during the upcoming national shutdown.
But the Tory minister has today performed a U-turn and apologised, saying he was 'wrong' and that both golf and tennis clubs will be closed from Thursday.
It comes as fellow Conservative minister Robert Jenrick was also accused of getting the rules wrong during an appearance on BBC Breakfast today.
Mr Gove, the MP for Surrey Heath, made his comments during a live chat with Surrey Residents Network, which was broadcast on social media.
Asked if people would be allowed to play doubles tennis, he said: 'You'll probably be able to play singles tennis. We are looking at allowing people to play golf with one other'.
However Mr Gove quickly back-tracked on his comments and apologised in a post on Twitter today.
He said: 'My apologies, I got this wrong. Outdoor leisure facilities including tennis courts and golf courses will be closed from Thursday.'
Michael Gove, pictured attending a cabinet meeting at Downing Street today, was forced to admit he got new lockdown rules wrong after suggesting golf and singles tennis could still be allowed under the incoming grassroots sports ban
In a talk with constituents, the Cabinet Office minister said rules on golf and singles tennis would be 'fine-tuned', possibly allowing players to continue during the upcoming national lockdown
But Mr Gove quickly backtracked on his comments last night and apologised in a post on Twitter today
What are the Government's rules on sports in upcoming lockdown?
Under the new lockdown rules, set to come in across England on Thursday, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres, gyms and sports facilities will be closed in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres will also be closed.
The ban includes archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks.
As part of the new proposals, grassroots sport, including youth football will be banned.
But elite level sport, such as Premier League football, will be allowed to continue behind closed doors.
Non-elite football clubs have been cleared to compete in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend under strict testing protocols.
Meanwhile, Mr Jenrick, the UK's Housing Minister, sparked further confusion on BBC Breakfast this morning.
He claimed people from one household could mix outdoors with one other person from another household during the new lockdown, which is due to last until December 2.
Under the rules announced by Boris Johnson over the weekend, one household can go out together or one person can meet one other outdoors in a public setting - while social distancing.
The only exception is for households who are in a support bubble with one other person from another household.
But speaking on BBC Breakfast today, Mr Jenrick sparked confusion when he said: 'There are some differences to the national measures we had in March and April which will benefit people. For example you're able to do unlimited outdoor exercise during this period.
'So we're not going back to the time where there was only one walk a day for a limited period, you can go out with your own household, or your own household plus one person and walk the dog, go for a run, go for a walk around the town or city you live.
Presenter Louise Minchin asked: 'I think I heard you say, outside you can be one household plus one other person - is that what you meant and is that right?'
Mr Jenrick replied: 'Yes that's right,' prompting Ms Michin to ask: 'Okay, so a family could go for a walk, for example, with a friend?'
The MP replied 'yes', before Ms Minchin asked: 'So four people and one person? That's right?'
Mr Jenrick then appeared to backtrack, saying: 'Yes, so you can go out in your own household or with one other person.'
Robert Jenrick , the UK's Housing Minister, sparked further confusion on BBC Breakfast this morning by saying people from one household could mix outdoors with one other person from another household during the new lockdown
Presenter Louise Minchin questioned Mr Jenrick on his understanding of the rules, before he then appeared to backtrack
It comes as today Ex-Premier League footballer Robbie Savage slammed the Government's lockdown ban on children playing grassroots sports, branding it 'nonsensical'.
The former Wales international-turned-BBC-pundit took a swipe at the newly announced policy and said he 'felt sorry for the generations of kids who cannot play'.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, the tough-tackling former Derby and Leicester midfielder, who is now a tough-talking pundit for BBC Radio Five Live, said: 'At times you have have to ask yourself do they (the Government) really talk to each other and do they know what they are doing?
'It's non-nonsensical and it really winds me up.
'I just don't get it and I feel sorry for the generation of kids who cannot play grass roots sports, and I'm not just talking about football, I'm talking about all sports.'
He added that it was 'inconsistent' that schools were 'rightly' allowed to stay open, but sports were banned, and said grassroots games provided an 'out' for some children - particularly from low-incoming backgrounds.
Under the new lockdown rules, set to come in across England on Thursday, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres, gyms and sports facilities will be closed in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres will also be closed.
The blanket ban on grassroots sports sparked a strong response from former footballer Robbie Savage, who branded the ban as 'nonsensical'
Professor Neil Ferguson warns UK faces another nationwide lockdown in the New Year if infection levels are not reduced 'substantially'
Professor Neil Ferguson has warned that the UK could face another lockdown in the New Year if infection levels are not driven down following a second national lockdown.
The Imperial College epidemiologist, nicknamed 'Professor Lockdown', said driving rates of infection down 'substantially' during the lockdown could see a relaxation of measures over the Christmas and could 'pose some risks'.
The scientist went on to describe how 'on-off measures' were to be anticipated amid a pandemic and it would be 'quite possible' for measures to be revisited in early January.
His comments come after Boris Johnson was on Saturday catapulted into announcing a total four-week shutdown for England from Thursday until December 2 amid a rise in coronavirus cases across the nation.
Speaking to Times Radio Breakfast he said: 'If we can drive infection levels down substantially, then we'll be in a better position to relax things over Christmas than if they are still at the current levels.
'Relaxation will inevitably pose some risks, it will lead to more transmission, but, if that's from a low baseline level, the costs of that and the harms it causes are going to be less than if we were at current levels.'
Professor Ferguson went on to say that data concerning transmission rates would need to be reviewed over the next few weeks.
He continued: 'Clearly, in some ways it will be better to find the perfect set of measures to keep transmission under control without needing to go in and out of lockdown.
'It is quite possible, unfortunately, that we may have to revisit this again come early January or something.
'I very much hope we don't, but I think everybody we have spoken to says we have to see what the data shows in the next few weeks, and adjust the policy accordingly.'
The ban also includes archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks.
As part of the new proposals, grassroots sports, including youth football will be banned.
Youth football is played by hundreds of thousands of children each weekend during the football season, with as many as 60,000 teams across England.
A petition has been launched urging a Government rethink on the youth grassroots sports ban.
The petition, launched by Matt Brodie and directed at Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is aiming to collect 150,000 signatures.
Since being launched two days ago, it has been signed more than 90,000 times.
On the petition's page, it says: 'On October 31, Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown in England until December 2.
'It is well known that outdoor transmission of the Covid 19 is minimal. All grassroots football clubs have guidelines & processes in place to make football safe.
'This petition is to fight to keep grassroots football for YOUTH going throughout the new restrictions.
'Benefits include physical health maintained or increased during restrictions, mental health maintained or increased due to the social aspect of sport and looking forward to the activity each week.
'It also improves parents' mental health. Taking your child and watching your child will support adult mental health.'
Meanwhile, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Julian Knight, has been among those calling for golf courses and tennis courts to be allowed to stay open.
And former DCMS committee chair Damian Collins is among a group of six MPs who have called on the Government to allow under-18s to continue participating in outdoor grassroots sports during the lockdown.
In a letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, the MPs wrote: 'Young people will currently be allowed to continue with sport at school, and we believe that the risks to the spread of coronavirus from outdoor grassroots youth sport would be minimal.
'There would however be clear and lasting benefits for these young people if the Government could support this.'
However, Mr Dowden tweeted: 'Unfortunately we need to pause grassroots sport outside school to reduce the transmission risk from households mixing,' he tweeted.
'As soon as we can resume this, we will.'
Former DCMS committee chair Damian Collins (pictured left) is among a group of six MPs who have called on the Government to allow under-18s to continue participating in outdoor grassroots sports during the lockdown. The letter is addressed to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden (pictured right)
Despite the ban on grassroots games, elite sport, such Premier League football, can continue behind closed doors during the lockdown.
Non-elite football clubs have been cleared to compete in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend under strict testing protocols.
It comes as Boris Johnson last night insisted the second lockdown will end next month, whatever happens, Boris Johnson insisted last night as he tried to head off a major Tory rebellion over the new restrictions.
During a two-hour grilling in the Commons, a string of senior Conservatives warned the Prime Minister that his plans for an 'authoritarian' lockdown would wreck the economy.
The prospects of a full-scale revolt appeared to be receding after the Prime Minister pledged the draconian restrictions would be 'strictly time-limited'.
He warned that his course of action is the only way to head off a 'medical and moral disaster' this winter.
But in an olive branch to Tory rebels, the PM said MPs would get a fresh vote on what should happen when the regulations expire next month.
'Whatever happens these restrictions end on December 2,' he said, adding: 'I think there is the prospect of a much brighter future ahead if we can make a success of these national measures and open up again in December, to give people the chance of some shopping and economic activity in the weeks leading up to Christmas and beyond.'
The PM's comments appeared to overrule Michael Gove, who sparked fury on Sunday by suggesting the lockdown could be extended.
Downing Street said the Government hoped to revert to the system of 'regional restrictions' next month, with many areas expected to go into Tier Three.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said his party would 'provide the votes necessary' to force the lockdown through when MPs vote on the restrictions tomorrow.
Tory whips were last night pleading with potential rebels not to hand Sir Keir a political victory by forcing the PM to rely on Labour votes.
However, ministers sparked fresh anger by ruling that MPs will have just 90 minutes to debate the new lockdown tomorrow – a time-limit described by former Tory chief whip Mark Harper as 'unacceptable'.
In the Commons, Conservative MPs lined up to criticise the plan for a second lockdown, which Mr Johnson himself dismissed last month as the 'height of absurdity'.
Sir Charles Walker said: 'I will not be supporting the Government legislation on Wednesday because as we drift further into an authoritarian, coercive state, the only legal mechanism left open to me is to vote against that legislation.'
He added: 'The people of this country will never ever forgive the political class for criminalising parents seeing their children and children seeing parents.'
Here we go again! From work to gym to going to the salon, what you can and can't do as we prepare for a second lockdown
This month's lockdown will not be the same as spring's. Schools will stay open, and we can still meet one person from another household outside.
More people will carry on travelling in to work, and the elderly will not be ordered to 'shield' indoors.
Here's a handy guide to what the new rules mean for you and your loved ones...
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
NURSERIES, SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE
Unlike in the first lockdown, you CAN meet a friend, relative or partner from another household outdoors, to exercise or sit in a park
If you must take public transport, avoid busy times and routes. Always wear a mask and maintain social distancing where possible
GOING TO WORK
VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND CARE HOMES
TRAVEL
Going on holiday is banned. Overseas travel is allowed for work or essential trips only
Hairdressers and beauty salons will be shut again, as will massage parlours and tanning salons
SHOPS AND LEISURE
PUBLIC SERVICES
Weddings and civil partnerships will not be allowed to go ahead unless there are exceptional circumstances
WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND WORSHIP
