A Cabinet minister has sown fresh confusion over lockdown rules after he said people CAN use a 'working lunch' loophole - despite Downing Street urging them not to.
Oliver Dowden suggested office workers in Tiers 2 and 3 could enjoy slap-up business lunches in a pub or restaurant - despite indoor gatherings between different households being banned.
That is because the law has an exemption for any gathering "reasonably necessary for work purposes".
Mr Dowden told ITV: "Work includes business functions and that's why the definition has been extended to cover that, of course."
Yet the Culture Secretary - who is in charge of the entertainment industry - appeared to be contradicting 10 Downing Street.
Boris Johnson's official spokesman has twice emphasised that, while the 'working lunch' loophole does legally exist, it should only be used in specific circumstances.
The spokesman told journalists yesterday: "There is an exemption which is in the guidance.
"But that is really there for the self-employed and freelancers, in recognition of the fact they might not have a workplace where they can have business meetings."
The PM's spokesman added on Tuesday: "We would encourage everyone to use alternative work meetings where possible, like Covid-secure workplaces where you have one, or to hold meetings virtually.
"The exemption you describe is there really for that specific group of people, such as a freelancer that doesn’t have anywhere else they can conduct a business meeting."
More than 20million people in England are living under Tier 2 restrictions - the “high” alert level - which apply in places such as London, the North East, Essex and Nottinghamshire.
Under the rules, meet-ups between different households or bubbles are banned indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.
A further 7million people are under Tier 3, where venues serving "substantial meals" are open but have similar restrictions on meeting your mates.
Culture Secretary Mr Dowden laid bare fresh contradictions in the rules when interviewed by ITV's Robert Peston.
Asked why people in Tier 2 areas were allowed to meet people from different firms for business lunches, Mr Dowden replied: "Well we've made a conscious choice through this crisis to prioritise people's jobs and livelihoods.
"And that means allowing people to go to work or as normally as we can in this crisis.”
The top Tory said the move was “part of saying that people can interact as part of their work in business”.
Pressed on whether people would pretend to be having business dinners with their mates, he said: "Well actually I think to the contrary.
"My experience has been that by and large the British people have shown a good deal of common sense, they understand why we're doing this.
“We're doing this because we know this virus spreads by social interaction.”
Mr Dowden appears to be the third minister to bungle rules that affect his own department in 24 hours.
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse wrongly said gyms in Tier 3-hit Greater Manchester had to shut.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick made the same mistake, despite negotiating the Manchester rules himself.
Despite the confusion, Mr Malthouse said people should "educate themselves" on the rules.
