Inside Politics: Boris Johnson’s big bike ride puts pressure on No 10 to define ‘local’

Downing Street asked to clarify exercise guidance after the prime minister went seven miles for a cycle, writes Adam Forrest

Criticism of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rose after he was spotted cycling in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park in Stratford, east London, seven miles away from n10 Downing street where he resides (EPA)

Amazing what you see if you roam far enough from home. In a major breakthrough for science, astronomers have been able to watch an entire galaxy dying. The collapsing system is nine billion light-years away – so it won’t be any bother to us. Boris Johnson has got himself into bother by travelling seven miles away from home for some exercise. No 10 is now in muddle trying to define what constitutes a journey that’s “local”, and what constitutes a journey that’s far, far away.

Inside the bubble

Chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for on Tuesday:

The cabinet meets this morning, then Matt Hancock will take questions in the House of Commons. He’ll be followed by Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, who will make a statement about the Chinese state’s use of forced labour in Xinjiang; and Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, who will update MPs on the armed forces’ contribution to the Covid response.

Daily briefing

TOUR DE FARCE: Boris Johnson has been accused of ignoring his own guidelines after it emerged he travelled seven miles from Downing Street to go cycling in the Olympic Park on Sunday. The government says you shouldn’t travel outside your local area for exercise. “The PM was taking exercise locally,” one No 10 source told The Mirror, suggesting he’d been driven across the city. “There isn’t anything in the rules that says you can’t drive somewhere in order to take exercise.” Asked about it at the last press conference, Matt Hancock offered: “It is ok to go if you went for a long walk and ended up seven miles from home.” What a mess. Labour MP Andy Slaughter, convinced the guidance was flouted, fumed: “Once again it is do as I say, not as I do, from the prime minister.” It comes as reports suggest the government is considering a ban on people exercising with anyone outside their household. And Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said rule-breakers were now “increasingly likely” to be fined.

SUPERMARKET CREEP: Mask refuseniks may have to choose their supermarket carefully. Morrisons will now bar any customers who refuse to wear face coverings. “That’s the right approach,” said Matt Hancock – urging other supermarkets to follow suit. The health secretary said he could definitely “rule out” removing support and childcare bubbles, and revealed 2.3 million people have now had the Covid vaccine. He said the government was “on track” of meeting the mid-February target of vaccinating the most vulnerable groups. But the most immediate target to vaccinate two million people a week may not be hit until the end of January, the government has admitted – putting the timetable in some doubt. NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Simon Stevens, told MPs that there is a “strong case” to consider prioritising “teachers and other key workers” for vaccination after the first nine priority groups.

THE LATE, LATE SHOW: Downing Street has rejected Keir Starmer’s call for 24 hour vaccinations – saying there is no sign of any demand for late-night appointments beyond the current 8pm cut-off. The Labour leader called for “a really round-the-clock vaccine programme, 24 hours a day”, but the No 10 spokeswoman Allegra Stratton said “there’s not a clamour for appointments late into the night or early in the morning”. Starmer also questioned why there were still “less restrictions in place” than there were during the first lockdown in March. “I do think it’s time to hear from the scientists [about] what else could be done,” he said. Politicians are keen to hear from officials on whether elections will take place on 6 May. Tory MP Steve Brine said he thinks they will “almost certainly” be postponed due to Covid, while Labour’s Meg Hillier said she couldn’t see “any option but for some delay”.

WELCOME TO THE BREXIT, SIR! We have a wonderful new catchphrase for 2021, thanks to a Dutchman in the Hook of Holland. Dutch TV footage revealed border officials confiscating sandwiches and other foodstuffs from drivers arriving in the Netherlands from the UK. One frustrated motorist had his tinfoil-wrapped ham sandwiches taken away as he arrived – with one jovial Dutch guard joking: “Welcome to the Brexit, sir!” The Independent’s story on the clip sent the phrase trending on Twitter. Turning to more bread and butter issues, one industry head has warned that emergency financial aid could be needed to shore up food exporters finding the “door to the EU is now shut”. James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said the new system for cross-border trade is “failing” and predicted problems will worsen this week. Even The Daily Mail has been highlighting the growing number of empty supermarket shelves resulting from “the Brexit”.

BUZZ FRIGHT YEAR: What would Greta Thunberg make of the PM getting chauffeured seven miles for a cycle? The climate activist questioned the credibility of Johnson’s green agenda for 2021 after the government announced that a bee-killing pesticide so poisonous that it is banned in the EU may now be used in England. The bee-killer – as well as the decision not to block a new coal mine in Cumbria – sparked some icy sarcasm. “New coal mines and pesticides ... the UK’s so called ‘green industrial revolution’ is off to a great start. Very credible indeed,” the 18-year-old campaigner tweeted. In other news, the UK’s biggest trade union has elected a woman as leader for the first time. Christina McAnea won 47.7 per cent of the vote and now takes over as Unison general secretary from Keir Starmer-backing Dave Prentis. Starmer welcomed her victory, saying: “I know you will be a brilliant representative for Unison members.”

FRIENDS TO THE END: The House of Representatives will vote on impeachment this Wednesday, but there will be no use of the 25th amendment to remove the monster from his lair. The outgoing VP Mike Pence held a meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office last night – and pledged to work with Trump “for the remainder of their term”. Trump will make his first public appearance since stirring up insurrection when he visits Alamo in Texas to burnish his legacy as a builder of walls. Sadly, we may not have seen the last of mob violence in America before he finally leaves office. The FBI has warning of plans for “armed protests” at all 50 state capitol buildings – and in Washington DC – in the days leading up to Joe Biden’s inauguration. Up to 15,000 National Guard troops could be deployed to protect the hand-over of power.

On the record

“It is preposterous to me that anyone could be unaware of our duty to do all we can to stop the spread of the virus.”

Met chief Dame Cressida Dick warns of more fines for rule breakers.

From the Twitterati

“Welcome to the Brexit, we’ve got fun and games … Welcome to the Brexit, watch it bring you to your kn-n-n-n-n-n-n-n knees.”

Sue Perkins puts the ‘welcome to the Brexit’ catchphrase to Guns ‘n’ Roses…

“Welcome my son Welcome to the Brexit. Where have you been? It's alright we know where you’ve been... (Yes, The UK. Give me your ham sandwiches).”

…while David Baddiel prefers putting it to Pink Floyd.

Essential reading

Tom Peck, The Independent: Imagine the anger if Jeremy Corbyn had led the disastrous response to Covid

Tim Burgess, The Independent: Musicians have been betrayed by this Brexit deal

Ailbhe Rea, New Statesman: What’s behind Keir Starmer’s bid to make Labour the ‘party of the family’?

Anna North, Vox: Police bias helps explain the US Capitol riot

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