Boris Johnson’s social-distancing review won’t change the fact that lockdown guidance needs to be supported by his scientific advisers

Editorial: It may well hand the PM the ammunition he seeks, but he would get more credit from the public if he were more honest about his desire to now put the economy first

Keep your distance? Two metres could become one (Getty)

Boris Johnson’s hopes of reducing the two-metre social-distancing rule to one metre have been blocked by the government’s scientific advisers, so he is now trying another route. Rather than keeping the guidance “under constant review”, the prime minister has commissioned a quick, wider investigation involving economists as well as scientists.

It is an open secret that Mr Johnson hopes this review will allow him to relax the restriction before pubs, restaurants and cafes start to open next month. In moving the goal posts after repeatedly assuring the public his government is “guided by the science”, he is seeking support for a decision he has already made in principle. He signalled his desire to move to one metre at a Downing Street press conference on 3 June – significantly, in his closing remarks, so that journalists could not ask Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, who were alongside him, whether they agreed.

Professor Whitty wants the two-metre rule to remain, advising that shifting to one metre would carry up to 10 times the risk of the current guidance. Sir Patrick has said there is no scientific rule about two metres – in effect, passing what is a political decision back to the politicians. But Mr Johnson appears to want cover for his decision in case it leads to a spike in the number of coronavirus cases. He will also have one eye on the inevitable public inquiry into the government’s response to the pandemic; he knows he cannot afford another mistake after delaying the lockdown, failing to provide enough personal protective equipment and testing and to protect care homes.

Characteristically, the announcement of the review was accompanied by Downing Street spin that “this is Boris ... taking control of the process”. That someone felt it necessary to repeat something we have heard before is revealing; the prime minister is under mounting pressure, not least from Conservative MPs, to show he has got a grip on this crisis, and counter the growing impression he is being buffeted around by events.

Of course, Mr Johnson must perform a very difficult balancing act as he tries to protect livelihoods as well as lives. After the grim news that GDP fell by a record 20 per cent in April and bad unemployment figures expected on Tuesday, it is understandable he wants to shift the dial from health towards the economy, even if he will not admit it. He is under intense pressure from business and Tory MPs, including cabinet ministers such as Rishi Sunak, to drop the two-metre rule. The chancellor told Sky News on Sunday: “It’s the difference between three-quarters and maybe a third of pubs opening.”

As well as helping to kickstart the economy, relaxing the rule would make it easier to travel on public transport and for more children to return to school – another issue on which the government’s performance has been poor.

The review will use international comparisons to bolster the case for easing the restriction. In China, France, Denmark and Singapore, the rule is one metre, while in Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Australia it is 1.5 metres. However, many of these countries have a lower rate of coronavirus infections than the UK.

The review might well hand Mr Johnson the ammunition he seeks, especially if a one or 1.5-metre limit were combined with greater use of face coverings or linked to a lower number of infections. But he should not change the guidance unless it is supported by his scientific advisers.

The prime minister would get and deserve more credit from the public if he were more honest about his desire to now put the economy first, and speak publicly about the risks the government and individuals will have to weigh up until a coronavirus vaccine or drug treatment is found. Such a conversation would not be a sign of weakness, but strength, and of the very grip Mr Johnson urgently needs to display.