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HELP LONDON GET BACK TO WORK PM

BORIS TOLD TO SEND OUT CLEAR MESSAGE ON SAFE RETURN TO OFFICE

Nicholas Cecil, Joe Murphy, Jonathan Prynn

BUSINESS chiefs today urged Boris Johnson to send out a clear message that it is safe to return to the office after he signalled that the work-from-home guidance is set to be scrapped on June 21. London

First, which represents around 200 of the capital’s largest employers, said there would be “relief” that it was likely that next month they would be able to “bring more staff back to do business in London”.

However, the group’s chief executive John Dickie told the Standard: “Ahead of June 21, the Government

must publish its review on social distancing to help people plan ahead, and it must be clear in its messaging that public transport and offices are safe for people to use.” Ruth Duston, managing

director of Primera Corporation, which runs nine central London Business Improvements Districts, including those in Victoria and Midtown, added: “It’s vital that the Prime Minister supports London’s recovery by providing clear messages about how people can safely return to their places of work.

“Businesses have invested millions of pounds to create safe and welcoming offices, the transport system is cleaner than ever and London is ready to welcome people back.”

Ian Haworth, of Leicester Square’s Hippodrome Casino, said: “Boris Johnson opened the Hippodrome Casino 10 years ago and we need him now to reopen the West End, Greater London and the rest of the country by encouraging businesses to get their workforces back again at their desks.”

After Mr Johnson’s upbeat remarks on axing the work-from-home advice, London minister Paul Scully told of his hopes that the city would soon be “humming once again as people come back to their offices”. He added: “The Tube has never been cleaner; the businesses that rely on regular visitors have had an impossibly difficult time but they’re ready to get back into the groove.

“The virus hasn’t gone away so we remain guided by the data and the results of our measures to keep the virus at bay, but like so many, I am looking forward to London humming once again as people come back to their offices.” Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, urged commuters to begin considering now how they will return as “the central London economy needs you”.

She said: “After the Prime Minister’s encouraging comments, now is the time to start thinking and preparing about how you are going to travel back in — on the Tube, train or bus...”

Ms Aiken emphasised that current advice is for people to stagger commute, if possible, to avoid rush-hour.

“I would encourage people to come back — even if it’s for two or three days a week because the central London economy needs you.”

A No 10 official said there would probably be official notification this month if June 21 was confirmed as the date for getting back to work.

“We are committed to providing enough notice for businesses and all those affected to have time to prepare. It will not be just a week ahead of June 21, it will be earlier than that and probably this month,” he said.

In other developments:

⬤ Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told of his hope that Parliament will be

The transport system is cleaner than ever and London is ready to welcome people back Ruth Duston, Primera Corporation

“back to normal” after June 21, with MPs no longer having to zoom in to contribute to debates and statements.

⬤ Foreign Office minister James Cleverly reiterated that the Government makes decisions based on data, when asked if fears about a Covid-19 variant from India could mean a delay to the June 21 relaxation of restrictions in England.

⬤ SAGE (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) was meeting today to discuss the latest evidence on the Indian variant which could be spreading faster than the Kent mutation.

⬤ With Covid jabs now being offered to people aged 38 and 39, vaccine expert Professor Adam Finn said most adults were keen to join Britain’s national effort to “see this pandemic off”.

Current Government work-fromhome guidance states: “You should continue to work from home where you can.” However, in reply to a question in the Commons yesterday from Kensington MP Felicity Buchan, Mr Johnson said the Government intended to lift this guidance provided the battle against Covid-19 stays “on track”.

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