Covid Lockdown: Boris Johnson sets out plan for 'significant normality' by Christmas - BBC Newsnight

Under the new guidelines, people may use public transport for journeys immediately, while advice for employers will change from 1 August 2020.

Companies will have more discretion to bring staff back to workplaces if it is safe to do so, the PM explained.

Mr Johnson added he was "hoping for the best and planning for the worst".

At a news conference at Downing Street, the prime minister said the plan "remains conditional" on continued progress in controlling the virus and preventing a second wave of infections that could overwhelm the NHS.

"It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest - possibly in time for Christmas," he said.

Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own timings for the easing of restrictions.

In the studio Mark Urban is joined by UCL Clinical Research Director Prof Christina Pagel and former Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Mark Walport.

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Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.

[tobylerone]

“Back to normal by Christmas”
Hmm sounds familiar, who else said that? OH RIGHT! Everybody who signed up for both world war 1 and 2! How did that go for them?

[libbyparker]

sorry but i need to know wether this summer i need to buy school clothes or pyjamas and joggers

[californiadreamin]

Boris has lost his mind. He has to go.

[dariusstrat]

Someone in a particular war said it would be over by Christmas. Well, we all know how that turned out...

[Matt-czti]

"The war will be over by Christmas"

[SamHeaton]

Boris Johnson “We will be back to normal by Christmas. There won’t be a second wave or second lockdown”

Narrator “They were not back to normal by Christmas. There was a second wave. There was a second lockdown. Things were in fact worse than ever”.

[Dear_Mr._Isaiah_Deringer]

The UK government is realizing that mostly the retired will die. The public purse stands money to gain that could be distributed throughout downing street.

[lancelotaxton]

So basically 2020 we ain't having it

[qualifiedidiots]

Why should we go back to normal? Normal got us into this mess.
Like, when can we get back to normal and put flammable cladding on buildings?

[wifi]

To ones that are going to lose their lives, good luck and good bye

[GusMcGuire]

Oh great, now Boris is trying to prep us for "It'll all be over by Christmas". I'd have a lot more faith in our Government if the Prime Minister didn't constantly sound like he's getting his soundbites from the "My Big Book of Jingoistic Bollocks".

[andrewshore]

WE SHOULD OF GONE DOWN INTO LOCKDOWN EARLIER. AND GOT OUT OF IT EARLIER

[lewisgrant]

Just one piece of advice Boris which I hope you will listen to. don’t listen to the scientists let’s get these restrictions lifted

[constantclips]

As Boris Johnson thinks that he is a wartime prime minister, does that mean that the Christmas aim for going back to normal is the same as the ww1 aim?

[bobdigi]

"We are no longer following the scientific and medical advise, and the buck no longer stops with me. I got the furlough scheme correct, but quite litterly nothing else. And for that I don't apologise. Instead here are some slogans and big words with no substance".

[rogerroger]

This minister, unfortunately, has no balls at all, they gonna give as a gift the government to labour party.

[jamesmcdonnell]

no disrespect to Kier Starmer & labour, but any alternative to tory government after what lies ahead, medically and economically will be better at next election, the sooner the better

[Stacey......]

They can't say what's happening from one day to the next so how can he tell us how things will be by Christmas

[eddiecash]

What Christmas is Boris on about that we can have this 'significant return to normality'?
That certainly isn't what the science say's Again !!
Also are these "Scientific Advisors" Scientists or just Advisors speaking on behalf of some Scientists ??
If so who are the Scientists they are speaking on behalf of ?

What I took from this; bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, buzzword, (scientist) bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, bla, buzzword (normality).
Yep, I'm down for that.

[kizzam]

I’ve been living normal this whole time, only those with a free mind understand