Coronavirus: Outdoor exercise could be banned if Britons continue to flout lockdown rules, government warns

Matt Hancock has warned the UK government could introduce a tougher lockdown and ban outdoors exercise if members of public continue to flout strict guidelines on social distancing.

It comes after the health secretary warned that people sunbathing in parks as the country experiences its warmest weather in six months are breaking coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Mr Hancock said: "I think this example of exercise is a really important one, because we've said because of the positive benefits to your physical and your mental health that it's OK to exercise on your own or with members of your own household.

"But if the result of that is that too many people go out and flout the other rules because they say 'well if I can exercise then it's fine for me to do other things' then I'm afraid we will have to take action.”

He added: “I don't want to have to take that action, of course I don't, but we have already demonstrated that we are prepared to take the action that's necessary to get this virus under control.

"So my message is really clear. If you don't want us to have to take the step to ban exercise of all forms outside of your own home then you've got to follow the rules and the vast majority people are following the rules.

"Let's not have a minority spoiling it for everybody."

Sir Keir Starmer – Labour’s new leader – said his party would support ministers if they decided to ban outside exercise.

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