Boris Johnson says pubs 'could open faster than previously thought'

Under-fire Boris Johnson says pubs and restaurants could be open sooner than expected.

He claimed that the government "may be able to do things faster" than previously thought - but did not clarify how much faster.

The Prime Minister's remark to MPs came after landlords warned they won't be able to reopen if customers have to stay two metres apart.

This still remains a sticking point, Mr Johnson admitted, but said work was being done to try and reduce the recommended distance.

Today he said the government was "trying to go as fast as we can" to reopen the hospitality industry.

He told MPs at the Commons Liaison Committee: "It is very difficult to bring forward hospitality measures in a way that involves social distancing but I'm much more optimistic about that than I was.

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"We may be able to do things faster than I had previously thought."

Under previously-announced plans, pubs could begin to open their doors again July if it is safe to do so.

The PM said he hopes the two-metre social distancing rule can be reduced - and has asked scientists to review it in order to aid public transport and the hospitality sector.

He told MPs: "My own hope is that as we make progress in getting the virus down, in reducing the incidence, that we will be able to reduce that distance, which I think will be particularly valuable in transport and clearly the hospitality sector."

But he said the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) continues to believe that there's "a very considerable reduction in risk at two metres".

Tory MP Greg Clark pressed for the PM to instruct Sage to review the distance.

Mr Johnson said: "I can not only make that commitment, I can tell you I've already done just that."

Earlier the pub industry warned two thirds of jobs in the sector could be lost unless social distancing restrictions are reduced to one metre.

Ministers were also urged to maintain the furlough scheme at the current rate of paying 80% of wages until October after the Government signalled it will ask companies to start sharing the cost from August.

In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and UKHospitality (UKH) called for furlough salary for pub and hospitality staff to be maintained at 80% until October.

That would allowing the sector, which is two months behind reopening compared to the rest of the economy, to fully get back up and running, they said.

The trade bodies warned that thousands of jobs could be lost unless pubs can safely re-open and be operationally and commercially viable businesses by July.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said the furlough scheme had been a lifeline to pubs and pub jobs.

"However, unless social distancing restrictions are reduced to the WHO's (World Health Organisation) suggested one metre, two thirds of pub jobs could be lost," she said.

"It is vital that the Government allows pubs to re-open under those safe conditions in July, so that they can operate at a sustainable level and become pillars of the community once more.

"Under two metre social distancing rules, pubs will have less space to operate with so will need less staff.

"Many pubs won't even be able to re-open, yet they could be expected to cover part of their staff furlough costs from August without any money coming in.

"Such a situation would mean either pubs closing for good or jobs being lost.

"Pubs have been closed since March with no income coming in. Expecting many to contribute to furlough costs whilst they are still closed is madness. The decision for the Chancellor is simple, extend the furlough scheme at 80% for our sector until October to save hundreds of thousands of jobs."