GREAT SCOT

Hairdressers and pubs serving food indoors will reopen in Scotland BEFORE England piling pressure on Boris Johnson

SCOTS will be able to get a haircut, travel and eat at the pub indoors ahead of people in England, it was revealed today, piling pressure on the PM to act quicker.

Nicola Sturgeon outlined more detail for Scotland's roadmap back to normal today - with some major differences compared to Boris Johnson's plans.

Advertisement
Nicola Surgeon outlined her plans for lifting lockdown today to MSPsCredit: Reuters

Easing lockdown is a matter for devolved governments meaning the rules are different for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This afternoon the Scottish leader brought forward a range of dates for when the nation will finally be allowed to reopen after months shut.

The move piled pressure on the PM to act quicker to ease lockdown as cases continued to fall.

And Ms Sturgeon said it was the "most hopeful" she had felt for a long time - in hopes Scots can have a near-normal summer.

Advertisement

Just 5,000 cases were recorded yesterday in the UK - and 64 deaths from Covid.

And more than 24million people across the UK have had their first jab - nearly half of the population.

The First Minister said today that while she hopes to be able to lift the stay-at-home order and open retail and hospitality at different points next month, work was still required to ensure cases did not soar again

She said: "This is certainly the most hopeful I have felt about the situation for a long time.

Advertisement

"However, as you would expect, I do need to add a note of caution.

"I know this is the bit none of us want to hear, but the route back to normality does depend on continued suppression."

The First Minister added: "We must continue to suppress it to the lowest level possible."

Advertisement

Indoor opening of hospitality like pubs and restaurants can take place from April 26 - but it's limited initially to food and non-alcoholic drinks until 8pm.

But people in England will have to wait until May 17 to have a meal indoors, under the PM's plan, though there will not be a curfew.

And England's pubs will still open first - outside on April 12. Scots will have to wait until April 26 and will still face a 10pm curfew on boozing, which has been ditched down south.

Shaggy-haired Scots will be able to get a long-awaited trim from April 5 - a week before others in England reopen on April 12.

Advertisement

Wales opened up its salons last Monday, but Northern Ireland has yet to set an exact date.

Hairdressers will be open in Scotland a week before England

Weddings of up to 50 people are expected from April 26, but the PM hasn't yet said when that many people can attend south of the border.

From April 12 in England Brits will be able to get hitched in a group of up to 15, and there will be a max of 30 allowed from May 17 onwards.

Advertisement

At the moment only people who are dying or have exceptional circumstances are allowed to get married in a very small ceremony.

Meanwhile, travel restrictions within Scotland are expected to be lifted from April 26, but this isn't expected in England until May 17, when internal travel will be allowed.

She added from early June her hope is that all of Scotland will move to Level 1 of coronavirus restrictions - the second lowest of five tiers.

By the end of June, she said all of Scotland will move to Level 0, with no restrictions on socialising at all.

Advertisement

The PM hopes to move to that stage by June 21, but has said he will confirm this nearer the time.

It's not clear whether social distancing rules and masks will need to carry on past this point.

The First Minister announced easing of some lockdown rulesCredit: Reuters
Advertisement

Difference between England and Scotland's lockdown lifting

WEDDINGS
England: Currently 6 attendees. 15 attendees from April 12, 30 attendees from May 17, all rules lifted by June 21
Scotland: Currently 5 attendees. Up to 50 attendees from April 26

OUTDOOR DINING
England: April 12
Scotland: April 26

INDOOR DINING
England: May 17
Scotland: April 26, limited initially to food and non-alcoholic drinks until 8pm.

HAIRDRESSERS:
England: April 12
Scotland: April 5

STAY AT HOME
England: Lifts on March 29, replaced with stay local
Scotland: Lifts on April 5, replaced with stay local

FULL RETURN TO SCHOOL
England: Kids returned in full on March 8
Scotland: From April 12

RULE OF SIX OUTSIDE
England: March 29
Scotland: April 26, but only up to 10pm

DOMESTIC TRAVEL
England: May 17, travel ban set to be lifted
Scotland: April 26, travel ban set to be lifted across UK

INDOOR MIXING
England: May 17, rule of six or two households
Scotland: May 17, rule of four from up to two households

Most read in Politics

TRUCE CALL
Top Tory calls for Kemi Badenoch to end her war of words with Nigel Farage
TOP TRUMPS
Keir Starmer hopes to visit Donald Trump within a month of him taking office
CITY SLICKER
Labour insiders want Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden to be City Hall candidate
JAMES JOHNSON
Nigel Farage can become PM - but it will take him two or even three elections
machibet777.com