Coronavirus: Nigel Farage says people should ignore government’s ‘draconian’ ban on gatherings of more than six people

Law ‘will not be respected by protestors and those going to raves, so why should the rest of us comply’, says Brexit Party leader

Nigel Farage has suggested people should break the new law banning social gatherings of more than six people, branding it “draconian”.

The Brexit Party leader claimed it would be flouted by “protestors and those going to raves”, adding: “So why should the rest of us comply?”

The tweet was the first evidence of right-wing unease about the new crackdown, designed to prevent the spike in coronavirus cases leading to a similar increase in deaths.

Boris Johnson will host a rare press conference today to explain why meeting in large groups – both indoors and outdoors – will become illegal in England from Monday.

Police will be told to break up gatherings of more than six individuals, in response to the new wave of infections being fuelled by young people socialising.

Workplaces will not be covered by the rules and there will also be exemptions for weddings, funerals and organised sporting events.

Ministers now believe the current rules, preventing more than two households mixing and varying indoors or outdoors, are confusing. Police have complained that they are difficult to enforce.