Boris Johnson urged British consumers to ‘shop’ with confidence’ as he urged them to return to the beleaguered high street tomorrow.
The Prime Minister visited Westfield shopping centre in East London today ahead of Monday’s big retail relaunch for the British economy.
He declared himself ‘optimistic’ about what may happen, but admitted it was not clear whether they would see a large number of shoppers immediately or start with a ‘trickle’.
It came as Chancellor Rishi Sunak today said ministers are ‘urgently’ looking at whether the two metre social distancing rules can be relaxed to boost shops and allow more pubs and restaurants to reopen.
And Mr Johnson has placed himself front and centre of the politicians who want the gap narrowed to allow more people into stores.
Speaking to broadcasters on his visit to the shopping centre in Stratford the PM said: ‘I am very optimistic about the opening up that is going to happen tomorrow.
‘I’ve been talking to the staff here in juice bars, shoe shops, M&S, everywhere, and they are very excited. They have done a huge amount of work.
‘They are not sure quite what they are going to get tomorrow, will they get a huge wave of customers, will it be a trickle, we don’t know.
‘But I think people should shop and shop with confidence, but they should of course observe the rules on social distancing and do it safely as well.’
The Prime Minister visited Westfield shopping centre in East London today ahead of Monday’s big retail relaunch for the British economy
This graphic shows some of the changes that may be made to ensure reopening stores can minimise the spread of the virus
He declared himself ‘optimistic’ about what may happen, but admitted it was not clear whether they would see a large number of shoppers immediately or start with a ‘trickle’
Stores are putting the finishing touches to new social distancing measures ahead of tomorrow’s high street reopening
Mr Johnson has placed himself front and centre of the politicians who want the two-metre rule eased to allow more people into stores.
But he said: ‘People should shop and shop with confidence, but they should of course observe the rules on social distancing and do it safely as well’
A worker dresses a mannequin in a Zara store on Oxford Street, London, ahead of the re-opening of non-essential retailers
A man cleans windows at the JD store on Oxford Street, London, near to signs urging customers to obey social distancing rules
A staff member – wearing a protective face mask – dresses a mannequin in a Zara store on Oxford Street before the shop reopens tomorrow
A woman wears a mask and gloves as she walks along Oxford Street ahead of stores reopening tomorrow. The Chancellor told shoppers it was safe to go out and said it was important to save people’s jobs
Covid-19 safety measures were on display inside a Primark store on Oxford Street ahead of non-essential stores reopening tomorrow
Social distancing measures are displayed in a shop window on Oxford Street ahead of stores reopening tomorrow
A City of Westminster hand sanitiser station is seen on Oxford Street ahead of non-essential shops reopening tomorrow
A woman can be seen walking alongside a sign indicating a store is re-opening on Oxford Street, London, tomorrow
A sign indicating that a Zara store is Covid-19 Secure can be seen in Oxford Street ahead of stores reopening tomorrow
People walk on social distancing markers outside Selfridges on Oxford Street, London. Mr Sunak had earlier appealed to British shoppers to get out there and spend some money
A shopper walks past Selfridges on Oxford Street today. Rishi Sunak earlier told shoppers to ‘get out there, get shopping’ amid the worst economic decline in generations, with GDP plummeting by a quarter in just two months
Customers will soon enter a world of one-way systems and quarantined footwear when non-essential stores in England are allowed to reopen
In a clear sign he would like the distancing guidance eased Mr Johnson said that ‘probably’ fewer than one-in-a-thousand people were now infected with coronavirus, allowing ‘more margin for manoeuvre’ in easing the two-metre rule.
‘As we get the numbers down, so it becomes one-in-a-thousand, one-in-sixteen hundred, maybe fewer, your chances of being, two metres one metre or even a foot away from somebody who has the virus are obviously going down statistically, so you start to build some more margin for manoeuvre, and we’ll be looking at that and keeping it under constant review,’ he said.
The Chancellor had earlier admitted he could see the ‘positive impact’ of reducing it to 1.5metres or one metre, citing other nations which have already made such a change.
It came as the UK’s high streets prepare to come back to life from tomorrow, with non-essential retailers allowed to open their doors for the first time since March.
The Chancellor told shoppers it was safe to go out and said it was important to save people’s jobs.
He told Sky’s Ridge on Sunday: ‘It’s the difference between three quarters and maybe a third of pubs opening. So it is importantly that we look at it.
‘Now that we have made good progress in suppressing the virus we are at a different stage in the epidemic than we were at the beginning. That enables us to take a fresh look at this.
‘Obviously many other countries around the world use a different rule and indeed we have seen a couple of countries recently – I think Norway and Denmark – have moved from two metres to something less as well.
‘But is it important we look at it comprehensively in the round and that is what we will do urgently.’
He added: ‘I can very much understand the positive impact it will have on businesses’ ability to open and thereby maintain the jobs that they have and make sure the people who work for them can come back to those jobs and remain employed. At the same time we must make sure it is safe to do so.’
Mr Sunak had earlier appealed to British shoppers to get out there and spend some money appealing to them to ‘get out there, get shopping’ amid the worst economic decline in generations, with GDP plummeting by a quarter in just two months.
All non-essential retailers are able to open their doors and lift their shutters from tomorrow morning, allowing weary consumers an opportunity to get out and spend.
But with unemployment figures this coming week expected to show that jobless numbers have skyrocketed despite the Chancellor’s multi-billion-pound furlough scheme, he acknowledged that there will be some anxiety.
He told the Sun on Sunday: ‘It’s important that as a country we’ve got to reawaken our lion spirit. That’s what we are about.
‘We’ve got to rediscover our confidence and get our lives back to normal.
So my message is simple — get out there, get shopping. Those are all the things we used to love doing before the pandemic and, bit by bit, we need to get back to where we were.’
However, with a nod to consumer uncertainty he added: ‘I am very conscious that there will be anxiety. For some time, many people have not been inside a shop and, in a way, we all have to relearn the behaviours we took for granted.
Queues formed outside Sports Direct on the high street of Southampton today as the shop opened a day early for those on the Covid-19 frontline
It opened between the hours of 11-3pm as a priority day for NHS staff only. NHS ID was required to enter the popular store
The Chancellor admitted he could see the ‘positive impact’ of reducing the two-metre distancing rule, citing other nations which have already made such a change
It came as the UK’s high streets prepare to come back to life from tomorrow, with non-essential retailers allowed to open their doors for the first time since March
‘We’ve been living with anxiety now for 12 weeks but the good news is that we’ve made enormous progress.
‘Bit by bit, that confidence will come back and the anxiety will reduce. But it’s not going to happen overnight.’
Boris Johnson will tomorrow pave the way for the abolition of the two-metre separation rule by taking personal control of the decision to axe it.
His crucial intervention comes as one of the country’s leading restaurateurs warns that if it is not scrapped, the hospitality sector will be hit by millions of job losses.
Mr Sunak added that a decision on whether to ease the two-metre rule will be for ministers rather than the Government’s scientific advisers.
He said the public would take confidence from the fact ministers were being advised by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty.
‘Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance throughout all of this have provided advice to ministers,’ he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.
‘Ultimately it is for ministers. We are the people who are elected to make decisions in this country. People should hold us responsible and accountable for making those decisions.
‘I think that people are comforted and have confidence in those decisions if they know that we are taking advice from our scientists.’
But senior ministers fear the top scientists advising the Government could quit over plans to ease the two-metre rule.
They have made it clear they believe the current guidance on safe distancing should stay. The Sunday Times claims Downing Street is concerned at the scale of opposition among scientists, who far it could lead to a second spike in coronavirus infections.
‘The worry is that Whitty and Vallance could resign,’ a source told the newspaper.
It comes as a new poll by ORB International shows that a majority of voters (52 per cent) thinks the Government is handling the pandemic badly, although that number has fallen.
GDP plummeted by more than a fifth in the first month of lockdown, and has now contracted by 25 per cent since February. In this chart, 100 on the vertical axis represents the size of the economy in April 2016, showing the extent of the fall compared to previous changes since 1997
Leading by example, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to visit a high street this week – in his first public visit since lockdown began – to reassure shoppers it’s safe to return to non-essential activities.
He urged British shoppers to head to the High Street to kick-start the flailing economy when stores reopen on Monday as the PM faces a cabinet backlash over plans to ease Sunday trading laws for a year.
Economic figures on Friday showed the UK economy in freefall with a record 20.4 per cent decline in April.
GDP plummeted by more than a fifth in the first full month of the crippling lockdown being in place, following a 5.8 per cent slump in March – which was in itself a the biggest dive ever at the time.
UK plc has now contracted by 25 per cent since February – with the country facing the worst recession in 300 years, when the Great Frost laid waste to Europe.
Boris Johnson has ordered a comprehensive review of the two-metre social-distancing rule amid calls it should be scrapped.
Easing the restriction is seen as vital if businesses such a restaurants and pubs are to be able to re-open sustainably.
The the review would effectively take control of social-distancing guidelines out of the hands of the Government’s scientific advisers, who have been deeply reluctant to countenance relaxation.
With many people thought to be nervous about going out again after nearly three months in lockdown, Business Secretary Alok Sharma sought to reassure the public that measures had been put in place to ensure their safety.
Writing in the Sunday Express, he said: ‘We need to get Britain’s economy firing again, while at the same time making sure we keep people safe and avoid a second peak of the disease.’
Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the two-metre social distancing rule should only be relaxed if the science backs such a move
Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the two-metre social distancing rule should only be relaxed if the science backs such a move.
He told Ridge on Sunday: ‘It should be reduced if the evidence indicated that it should be.
‘This is where we need to be so careful because the public health position and the health of the economy go together. There’s no point seeing them in conflict.’
Mr Thomas-Symonds added: ‘If it did move to one metre without there being scientific advice backing that you would end up with a second peak, which would cause even greater economic damage.
‘My message to the Government is to be vigilant, be cautious, approach this in a structured way and publish the evidence so we can all see it, and we can get that restoration of confidence in the public health advice that the Dominic Cummings affair did so much damage to.’
Harrods will reopen tomorrow after closing for the first time in 170 years amid the COVID-19 crisis – featuring a one-way system and hand sanitiser dispensers, while any clothes tried on will be put in quarantine for 72 hours
World-famous department store Harrods is set to reopen tomorrow after closing for the first time in its 170-year history amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Knightsbridge stalwart, which stayed open during the Blitz, closed on March 23 with all other non-essential retailers.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the managing director Michael Ward revealed their plans to reopen – including hand sanitiser on the walls, shoe coverings and a one-way route around the store.
While the Prime Minster has allowed all shops to re-open from June 15, the two-metre social distancing rule means the seven-floor store will only be able to have 4,500 customers a day, compared to 80,000 they would usually see at peak times.
World-famous department store Harrods is set to reopen tomorrow after closing for the first time in its 170-year history (pictured)
Michael went on to say signs will be put up in the building to read ‘browse with your eyes only,’ while there will be no samples available in grand beauty counters – instead being replaced by plastic colour charts on display.
‘Beauty is the worst possible world, as it’s all about touch,’ said Micheal, speaking to told the publication. ‘If a customer wants to try anything on, they will be given single-use pods to apply to their own skin. The whole ritual has been spun around 180 degrees.’
There will be no more fragrance samples, but, staff with gloves on will spray perfume on a scent card and pass it to customers on a silver tray – and loud music will play throughout the store.
Harrods customers will be able to try on clothes – unlike in some shops – but shoppers will be asked to sanitise themselves, while clothes not bought will be bagged up and sanitised for 72 hours before being returned to sale.
Harrods customers will be able to try on clothes – unlike in some shops – but shoppers will be asked to sanitise themselves and clothes not bought will be bagged up and sanitised for 72 hours before being returned to sale. Pictured, stock image
Staff at the Qatar-owned company have also been trained to only touch the corners of clothes when bagging them, to stop any cross-infection.
Those who want to try on shoes will be given disposable socks to wear, and unwanted items will be sanisited and quarantined for 24 hours.
This applies for items that are touched and not bought throughout the shop – including books, which will face a 72-hour quarantine period.
For now, the beauty salon and wellness centre remain closed, meaning the days of high-society meet ups for a blow-dry and shop are still on hold.
Michael went on to reveal the food hall will also reopen, but a limited capacity, and customers will be told to come back later if it’s busy.
‘Big shops are much better prepared — at Harrods we even have our own fire department, the biggest private security force and our own health and safety department’, he added.
The food hall will also reopen, but a limited capacity, and customers will be told to come back later if it’s busy
‘We started preparing even before we closed. Our crisis management team started meeting daily in February when we saw what happened in China’.
Any excess stock will be moved to a new outlet store, in Westfield’s centre in Shepherd’s Bush, in what is the first ever store designed for socially distanced shopping.
In the meantime, Harrods opening hours have been reduced to 11am-7pm so that staff avoid peak travel times.
Only 800 employees will be returning to work, while 3,000 remain furloughed.
FEMAIL has contacted Harrods for comment.