Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new lockdown easing rules throughout England coming into force from tomorrow, Monday June 1st.
The Prime Minister announced on Thursday that all five of the government’s tests for easing the lockdown are being met, so adjustments can begin to be made in England.
The biggest news includes allowing groups of up to six people to gather outside in public spaces or private gardens.
In the press conference, Johnson said: “I cannot and will not throw away all the gains we’ve made together and so the changes we’re making are limited and cautious. It’s thanks to the caution you’ve shown so far that all five met are being met.”
Credit: CDC / Unsplash
From Monday June 1st, you can now meet in groups of up to six people as long as you stick to the social distancing rules of staying two metres apart. You can also meet people from different households.
This means you can see both your parents or both your grandparents at the same time.
The meetings are limited to outside, unless you have to walk through the house to get to a garden where the meeting will take place.
Boris Johnson advised people to avoid seeing ‘too many households in quick succession’ to ‘avoid the risk of quick transmission from lots of different families’.
The rules remain the same regarding visiting someone inside their house: “It remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families, unless it is to access the garden.”
With regards to shopping, most shops remain closed but outdoor markets and car showrooms will reopen from June 1st. It is expected that other non-essential shops will open on June 15th.
Schools will reopen to more children from June 1st to avoid ‘depriving children of their education’. Boris Johnson said: “On Monday we will start to put this right in a safe way by reopening nurseries and other early-years settings and reception year one and year six in primary schools.”
From June 15th, it is expected that schools will begin some face to face contact time for years 10 and 12.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chirs Whitty, said it is hoped that ‘relatively soon’ the number of infections will be low enough to let shielded people leave home,although they must remain shielding for now.
What you will be able to do from June 1st in England:
Gather in groups of up to six people in public or private outdoor spaces, practising social distancing
Reception, year one, year six and nursery age children are allowed to go back to school
Visit outdoor retail spaces, including outdoor markets, car showrooms where social distancing is possible
This is on top of what you could already do in England:
Travel to work if you cannot work from home, avoiding public transport and wearing face masks if you cannot.
Spend unlimited time outdoors for sunbathing or picnics
Travel to an outdoor open space irrespective of distance
Take day trips to an outdoor open space in a private vehicle
Meet one person from another household outdoors following social distancing guidelines
Unlimited exercise
Use tennis, basketball or golf courses
Visit garden centres
Students can return home if its permanent
Go to property viewings
Childminders/ Nannies can come to your house to look after your child
You still cannot do the following in England:
Visit friends/family homes or stay overnight
Exercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre including pools
Use outdoor gyms or playgrounds
Visit private or ticketed attractions
Leave your home to stay at another home
Share a private vehicle with another household
Leave your home to stay at another home for a holiday / to visit second home
Invite anyone other than close family/friends, or someone from the same household as the deceased to a funeral
Fines:
Breaking the lockdown rules could mean incurring a fine from £60 to £100
Repeat offenders will see the fine double for each subsequent breach to a maximum of £3,200
The Grade II-listed Portico Library will receive almost half a million pounds to transform the historic building.
The funding has helped secure the future of the 218-year-old building – a much-loved gem standing proudly on Mosley Street.
Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the £453,000 will see the treasured library undergo a huge revamp and preserve its book collection.
Robert Wade / Flickr
During its development, local communities in Manchester will be invited to help work on the project.
With particular focus on environmentally sustainable architectural plans, it aims to unite all three original floors of The Portico Library for the first time in 100 years.
The ground floor will be transformed into a ‘Northern bookshop’ which will hold educational activities, with areas for dining, exhibitions areas and meeting spaces.
David Dixon / Geograph
While the upper floors will showcase the library’s incredible book collection and archives, which includes the first edition of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
John Carpenter, Chair of the Portico Library, said: “The news that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting The Portico Library’s bold scheme to open up and share its extraordinary heritage and collection, to Manchester residents and visitors, is a major cultural signal to Manchester, the North and the UK.”
David Dixon / Geograph
He added: “This visionary project, years in the making, fulfils our mission of working with the many people in Manchester to explore, share and celebrate their diverse stories and the city’s literary and global heritage.
“Embracing creativity, collaboration and inclusivity, the project will unlock the Library’s past to plan for the future. We would like to thank the National Lottery players who have made it possible to realise our vision.”
A handwritten note with alleged details of a ‘plan to kill’ transgender teenager Brianna Ghey was found by police in the bedroom of Girl X.
The crumpled paper note (pictured) was discovered by officers during a search conducted at the accused’s home in March, more than a month after the tragic death of the 16-year-old.
Brianna was found after being stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park, Warrington, earlier this year.
The teenager was discovered by dog walkers just after 3pm on Saturday, February 11th.
Cheshire Police
Girl X from Warrington and Boy Y from Leigh both deny murder. During the trial, jurors at Manchester Crown Court heard how Girl X sent a picture of the handwritten note to Boy Y on February 3rd.
The note began with the header: “Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey.”
It continued: “Meet Boy Y at wooden posts 1pm. Walk down to library…bus stop. Wait until Brianna gets off bus then the 3 of us walk to Linear Park.
“Go to the pipe/tunnel area. I say code word to Boy Y. He stabs her in the back as I stab her in the stomach. Boy Y drags the body into the area. We both cover up the area with logs etc.”
Cheshire Police
In her opening speech, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury: “It is clearly, the prosecution say, a plan to kill Brianna Ghey.” During the same search on March 17th, officers found a note found in a drawer headlined ‘plan’.
Details in the note continued: “Give them alcohol with sleeping pills.
“Slit throat. I kill her. Dismember body. Place pieces in bin bags, bury bags 7ft underground, bones including.
“Get her to go to Linear park, go to the hidden spot near the bridge I usually go to. Someone jumps out and restrains her (plan B). I kill her.”
During the search, police also found a computer tablet and a black notebook.
Cheshire Police
Jurors heard that written in the notebook was the word ‘anarchy’ on one page, and on another there was a list of ‘what is right and wrong’. Another page had a ‘spider diagram’ with ‘good and ‘evil’ in the middle.
The ‘legs’ of the diagram lead to the words ‘forgiveness, justice, morality, good, suffering, evil, sin and free will’, the court heard.
On another page there were the words ‘Valentine’s gifts’ and on another the words ‘revision HW’. Prosecutor Cheryl Mottram said: “Homework, perhaps.”
Written on another page were the words ‘types of serial killers’, with a list under the heading.
Brianna Ghey / Go Fund Me
Words underneath included ‘organised and disorganised’, ‘mass murder’, ‘psychotic’, ‘organised crime’ and ‘copy cat’. On another page were the words ‘films’, and ‘faves’.
Another page was headed with ‘Jeffrey Dahmer’ and then a ‘list of characteristics’. There were also notes about ‘John Wayne Gacy’, the ‘killer clown’.
The notebook also had written inside it a note which read ‘potential threats’ and ‘people that need to go’.
Another page had Boy Y’s name on it followed by a ‘list of qualities or attributes’. Underneath was written the words ‘trustworthy, funny, sociopath, good sense of humour, very very smart, genius level and not sociable’.
Mikey / Flickr
Officers also recovered a black purse inside a ‘cubby hole’ with a handwritten note inside.
The note read: “Friday 11th November, attitudes to forgiveness.” Jurors were told the note contained two names, including Gee Walker.
“Forgives her son Anthony’s killer,” it read. And continued: “Julie Nicholson, who could not forgive the terrorists who killed her daughter Jenny.”
Three handwritten notes were also found on the floor of the room. One read ‘serial killer facts’, with a ‘list of facts relating to serial killers’ including ‘killing themselves in police custody can be a final act of control’, ‘hedonism’ and ‘power and control orientated’.
Google Maps
Other notes made were ‘cruelty to animals’, ‘bed wetting past age of five’, ‘USA has the most serial killers’, ‘lack of empathy for others’ and ‘can be superficially charming’.
One note read ‘Dr Harold Frederick Shipman, aka Dr Death’, followed by the words ‘classification, serial killer’.
And jurors were told there was also a note in relation to ‘Richard Ramirez, or the ‘Night Stalker’.
The trial, which began on November 27th at Manchester Crown Court, continues.
Hugh Grant and his wife Anna have donated £20,000 to Burnley plumber James Anderson.
Dubbed ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’, James Anderson set up Depher, which stands for Disabled and Elderly, Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response, back in 2017.
Originally a plumber who offered services to those in need for free of charge, Mr Anderson now runs the community interest company.
Tine Hemeryk / Flickr
Depher provides plumbing work free of charge for those who are struggling in the cost of living crisis.
Since it began in 2017, Depher has helped more than half a million people across the country and relies on donations from the public.
Now, Hollywood actor Hugh Grant and his wife Anna, who both arrived in Manchester on Thursday December 7th to attend the Chanel Métiers d’Art fashion show, have made a donation of £20,000 to help those in need this winter.
@Depheruk / Twitter
The couple have also donated tens of thousands of pounds to the Depher cause in the past.
Anderson called the kind donation a ‘Christmas gift’ and said it brings the total they have donated to £75,000.
Sharing the news on the Depher Twitter page, Mr Anderson wrote: “After speaking privately to @HackedOffHugh and Anna Grant I have permission to share their wonderful #Christmas gift to @Depheruk.
After speaking privately to @HackedOffHugh and Anna Grant I have permission to share their wonderful #Christmas gift to @Depheruk This wonderful and humbling donation of £20,000.00 will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the… pic.twitter.com/lbC3v6KZ6h
“This wonderful and humbling donation of £20,000.00 will give hope to thousands of people, families and children, especially with the #CostOfLivingCrisis.