Government urged to clarify lockdown rules amid public confusion

Ministers and police have been accused of sending ‘mixed messages’ which ‘add to the chaos and fuel anxiety’.

The government has been urged to be ‘absolutely clear’ about what they expect from the public during the UK lockdown.

Boris Johnson has ordered people stay at home aside from shopping for food, one form of exercise a day, any medical need, to provide care or help a vulnerable person, or to go to work if they cannot work from their house.

But with ministers and police said to be taking ‘wildly different approaches’ to the shutdown, the government has been accused of sending ‘mixed messages’ which ‘add to the chaos and fuel anxiety’.

Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said the majority of the public were willing to comply with the guidelines, but the government needed to clarify its message.

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The Scottish Liberal Democrat politician said: ‘With police taking wildly different approaches to enforcing social distancing measures and ministers’ off-the-cuff remarks adding to the confusion, it’s no wonder people are uncertain about what the government expects of them during this crisis.

‘The vast majority are keen to comply with advice and will do whatever it takes to keep themselves and others safe by curbing the spread of the virus.

‘However, the government must make every effort to be absolutely clear about what the expectations are and why they are necessary.

‘Mixed messages from ministers only add to the chaos and fuel anxiety.’

Her comments come after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps claimed people should only go out to shop for food ‘once a week’ if possible.

He told the BBC: ‘People know the rules that have been set. Try and shop just once a week – just, you know, just do the essentials not everything else.’

However, guidance set by the government does not limit the number of times someone can shop a week, instead stating that people should shop for essentials as infrequently as possible’.

The prime minister himself has been criticised for ignoring social distancing guidelines after insisting that he would shake hands with coronavirus patients – despite scientific advice warning against this.

Mr Johnson is currently self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus with ‘mild symptoms’.

Some police officers have also come under fire for being ‘heavy handed’ during the lockdown by using drones to spy on people taking walks at beauty spots and stopping dog-walkers from driving their pets to open spaces.

Some reports have even claimed officers had urged shops not to sell Easter eggs because they were ‘not essential’ items.

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Cabinet minister Michael Gove attempted to clarify the rules on exercise last week when he advised people to limit jogging to 30 minutes.

Government guidelines say that ‘one form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household’ is allowed.

Speaking to BBC’s Andrew Marr, Mr Gove said: ‘Well, obviously it depends on each individual’s fitness. I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate.’

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster added that most people were already displaying ‘common sense’ when it came to following social distancing guidelines.

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