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Exclusive: Michael Gove persuaded Boris Johnson to bring in 'rule of six'

The Telegraph understands that Mr Gove and Matt Hancock pressed Mr Johnson to change the law - Eddie Mulholland
The Telegraph understands that Mr Gove and Matt Hancock pressed Mr Johnson to change the law - Eddie Mulholland
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Michael Gove played a central role in persuading Boris Johnson to adopt the controversial "rule of six" in the face of strong opposition from fellow ministers, The Telegraph has learned.

Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was one of only two Cabinet ministers who argued for the "draconian" new measure when the decision was made earlier this week.

Others – including Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary – suggested the number should be at least eight in order to allow larger families to meet grandparents.

Despite Mr Gove and Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, being the only two ministers in favour of the number coming down to six, Mr Johnson later announced that he had sided with them rather than the rest of the ministers (watch the Prime Minister announcing the new rule in the video below).

It came as restaurants reported a slew of cancellations of bookings from Monday – the day the new law banning social gatherings of more than six people comes into force. The hospitality industry had already warned that the new rule would have a "devastating" effect on the slow recovery from lockdown.

Ministers are concerned not only about the effect on businesses but also that the Government will lose the goodwill of the public by passing such a stringent measure.

With dissent over the policy growing among the Tory ranks, MPs intend to force Mr Hancock or another Cabinet minister to consider changing it by raising the matter in the Commons on Monday.

They have the backing of the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who encouraged a Tory backbencher to use Parliamentary mechanisms to "tittle this little item out".

On Friday, the Welsh government announced that it was following Scotland's lead by exempting children from its own "rule of six", a move that amplified calls from critics of Mr Johnson's policy for him to follow suit.

Senior Tory sources claim "at least half" the Cabinet are opposed to the rule as it stands, and a majority of ministers were opposed to it when the Prime Minister convened his Covid sub-committee on Tuesday.

The Telegraph understands that Mr Gove and Mr Hancock (seen talking about new restrictions in the video below) pressed Mr Johnson to change the law allowing gatherings of up to 30 by altering the maximum number to six following a presentation by Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser.

One source said: "Whitty and Vallance were in favour of six as the number, but they didn't set out any rigorous scientific analysis of why. It wasn't clear what the scientific basis was for the number six.

"Michael Gove and Matt Hancock argued that it would be simpler for the public to understand six, because six is already the maximum number of people from more than two households that you're supposed to have."

Mr Johnson asked each minister in turn for their opinion and, according to one source, "everyone said it should be at least eight, apart from Gove and Hancock".

The other ministers at the meeting were Mr Sunak, Ms Patel, Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary.

Several ministers argued that setting the maximum at six would be "too restrictive" and that the public would find it difficult to support or adhere to a rule that meant larger families would be breaking the law if they met grandparents or other relatives.

Mr Johnson did not explain his own position or tell the ministers what he had decided, but later opted to side with Mr Gove and Mr Hancock.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the account "does not reflect" the way in which the decision was reached, adding: "The decision was agreed between the coronavirus strategy committee, the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser."

Asked whether the Government was considering varying the rule to exclude children, the spokesman added: "We looked at all of the evidence in advance of the decision, and it was decided to have the 'rule of six'. The rules have been simplified and strengthened so they are easier to understand."

Spokesmen for the ministers at the meeting said they supported the Government's decision.

Mr Hancock has not yet signed off the changes to the law that must be in place by Monday to enable the "rule of six" to be enforced by police.

The former Tory minister Sir Christopher Chope told the Commons he was "very concerned about the lack of opportunity" for the public and MPs to scrutinise the "draconian new restrictions on our liberty" before they come in.

He is now expected to table an urgent question in Parliament on Monday to force Mr Hancock to explain why the rule is needed.

The Speaker told him: "I share your disappointment" and said "the country should also know what's going on".

He added: "You know and I know there are other avenues which could maybe be placed down on Monday to actually tittle this little item out, if required. So I will leave it with you to ponder what you want to do next."