Dominic Raab says 'you can meet up with other people' in lockdown if social distancing remains - but government clarifies his statement

Mr Raab said that, under the new lockdown rules, people can meet different family members separately on the same day while maintaining social distancing.

So far 202 people have died at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham. There are 219,183 cases in Britain, and 308 in Portsmouth.

Mr Raab had told BBC Breakfast: ‘If you're out in the park and you're two metres apart, we're saying now, and use some common sense and you socially distance, you can meet up with other people.

‘The key thing is people want to get outdoors, particularly with this weather, particularly I think for mental health and, frankly, the frustration people feel if they're cooped up for too long for protracted periods.

‘We want to make sure that that people can enjoy the outdoors more ... but people must stay alert, because the more we do some of the things that we want to do, the more we need to just be careful about this social distancing.’

Asked if people could meet both their parents in a park, he told BBC Radio 4: ‘Well, you could if there's two metres apart.’

Government quickly issued a statement withdrawing what Mr Raab said, the Independent reported. The news website quoted a source who said: ‘They can see both parents, but not at the same time – they would have to see them individually.’

Photos from the bank holiday weekend show people on Eastney and Southsea beaches as police moved sunbathers on.

Asked if someone could meet their mother in the morning and their father in the afternoon, he said: ‘Outside in the outdoors, staying two metres apart, yes.’

It comes after confusion reigns following prime minister Boris Johnson’s address to the nation last night, announcing easing of some rules.

Mr Johnson suggested fines will go up for rule breakers. But there is confusion as to what the new rules will be by Wednesday, when they are due to be implemented.

Guidance is expected to be published at 2pm.

Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane said he expected to see the limited changes announced by the prime minister implemented from Wednesday.

Officers currently have powers to fine people £30 for flouting rules.

Reacting to the statement last night, Mr Lane said: ‘There is so much good happening, and successes to hear of every day, that I take encouragement from the glimpses of an improving future.

‘I look forward to hearing more detail from government, parliament and through guidance as the week progresses on how to sustain and accelerate this progress and the part we can all play to successfully defeating Covid-19.’

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