Inside Politics – Coronavirus special: Boris Johnson tries to ‘draw a line’ under Dominic Cummings saga

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It’s coming back, it’s coming back … in just three weeks’ time, football’s coming back. Premier League fans are set to enjoy fixtures almost every day of the week from 17 June. And if you set up your TV or laptop up in the garden and stay two metres apart, you can even watch with your friends. Boris Johnson has announced new lockdown easing measures allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. Let’s hope the PM explains the rules to Dominic Cummings very, very carefully. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing during the coronavirus crisis.

Inside the bubble

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick on what to look out for on Friday:

All eyes will be on Rishi Sunak, who is poised to announce the details of his plan to wind down the furlough scheme which has propped up about 8.4 million jobs through the pandemic – at an eye-watering cost of £15bn. Companies are expected to be required to cover a quarter of the 80 per cent subsidy from August. But could it be even earlier? And will the self-employed be left out in the cold by the chancellor? The announcement could come as early as today.

Daily briefing

FRIENDS REUNITED: From Monday groups of up to six people from different households can meet outside in gardens and private outdoor spaces in England (so long as they keep two metres apart), Boris Johnson announced – describing it as “long awaited and joyful moment”. It was certainly a joyful moment for those inside No 10 hoping to dislodge Dominic Cummings from the front pages. Durham Police didn’t exactly clear the week-long saga up with a statement explaining that the aide’s trip to Barnard Castle “might have been a minor breach” of lockdown rules. The force won’t be pursuing it retrospectively and the PM said he intended to “draw a line under the matter”. Johnson also said primary schools will welcome back certain year groups on Monday, while garden centres, outdoor markets and car showrooms will also reopen.

SOUND OF SILENCE: The prime minister did manage to create more Cummings-related headlines when he refused to allow his scientific advisers answer a question from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg about whether his lockdown trip damaged their health messages. Johnson said he would have to “interpose myself” and “protect them from ... an unfair and unnecessary attempt to ask a political question” – before muting Kuenssberg. ITV’s Robert Peston then asked the same thing, suggesting it was a public health matter, but the PM “interposed” himself again. Sky News’ Sam Coates cheekily suggested Sir Patrick Vallance or Professor Chris Whitty could give “nod or a shake of the head” if they agreed with the PM. Labour leader Keir Starmer criticised Johnson for failing to allow “transparency” and claimed the PM had been “too weak throughout” the Cummings saga.

MATT ATTACK OF THE GIGGLES: The launch of the NHS Test and Trace system was beset by problems on its first day – several contact tracers told The Independent that they could not access the website on Thursday morning. The Department of Health insisted the system had not crashed, adding that “issues logging on ... are rapidly being resolved.” Labour MP Ben Bradshaw and Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper said the chair of the new system had told them in a private conference call that it wouldn’t be “fully operational” until the final days of June. Could it be the whole thing was “rushed” forward this week to distract from Cummings-gate – as Sky News’ Kay Burley suggested? Matt Hancock found the idea absurd, ridiculous, preposterous – and utterly hilarious. So hilarious the health secretary laughed hysterically during his appearance on her show. “It’s priceless, Kay,” he said between his chuckles.

SLEIGH OF HAND: Donald Trump, a true master of media distraction, has signed an executive order aimed at stripping social media platforms of legal protections. Continuing his war against Twitter – the platform that helped give him political power – the president’s order allows regulators to take action against Twitter and others if they attempt to police wild content. Twitter’s Jack Dorsey said: “We’ll continue to point out incorrect or disputed information about elections globally.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the order is merely a “distraction” to obscure the fact his administration “has been a failure in terms of testing, treating and isolating people” from coronavirus.

NEW SCHOOL RULES: More than 200 schools in South Korea have been forced to close again only days after welcoming children back. The country’s health authorities – hailed for their track and trace capabilities – are worried about a new spike in Covid-19 cases. There were 56 new infections recorded in the past 24 hours. In India, meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus fatalities – 4,706 – has now surpassed China’s death toll. With some experts warning the virus is yet to peak there, it’s unclear what it means for the national lockdown, set to end on 31 May.

CAFE CULTURE RESUMES: French prime minister Edouard Philippe has announced some loosening in its coronavirus lockdown restrictions. From 2 June, bars, cafes and restaurants in so-called “green zones” – where the virus is deemed under control – will be able to reopen. The government is also lifting a nationwide 60-mile travel restriction and will reopen beaches and parks next week too, as it seeks to revive the economy ahead of tourist season. “Freedom will become the rule, bans the exception,” said Philippe in a televised address.

On the record

“Inevitably there may be some anomalies, or apparent inconsistencies, in these rules.”

Boris Johnson suggests some may find loopholes in his latest lockdown easing measures.

From the Twitterati

“This is not a good look from Boris Johnson, stopping the chief scientific adviser answering legitimate questions from the press. We are supposed to live in a democracy not a form of dictatorship.”

The SNP’s Ian Blackford didn’t like the PM’s ‘muted’ briefing...

“Perhaps Downing Street Covid briefings could now be held in the Rose Garden with questions asked in person? Worked for Mr Cummings.”

…while LBC’s Eddie Mair says it could be time to end the Zoom press conferences.

Essential reading

Mark Steel, The Independent: Now we all get to make up stories if we want to break the rules

Caroline Lucas, The Independent: The ‘old normal’ wasn’t good enough – it’s time for a green economy

Stephen Bush, New Statesman: Boris Johnson still isn’t facing up to the economic challenge of Covid-19

Kathy Gilsinan, The Atlantic: How China is planning to win back the world

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