Britain must be braced for widespread riots this summer, a government adviser says, warning poorer people and areas will be hit harder by the coronavirus fallout, our deputy political editor 
Rob Merrick reports.

Police and the government are being urged to prepare now for the risk of “serious public disorder” on the scale of the 2011 riots – particularly if curbs on freedoms have to be reimposed.
 

Frankie and Benny’s to close 125 restaurants
 

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Up to 3,000 jobs are on the line after the owner of Frankie and Benny’s announced plans to close 125 restaurants across the country.

The Restaurant Group said it was seeking approval from its landlords for a deal that would let it reduce the number of restaurants it runs and negotiate lower rents for many of those left over.

Bosses said the hospitality industry was facing “well documented” problems after the coronavirus pandemic forced many in the sector to close their doors.

If landlords approve the deal, known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), it will leave the firm’s leisure arm with about 160 sites.

It will also allow it to exit about 25 restaurants which have already been closed.

The Restaurant Group also owns pan-Asian chain Wagamama, and runs several pubs and concessions in airports. These will not be affected by the news, it said.

The stores that will close are “principally” Frankie and Benny’s restaurants, it added.

PA

“There’s also going to be huge pressure in other parts of the service – we shouldn’t just concentrate on waiting lists or hospitals but also look at what’s happening in community services and primary care.
 

“Because in all those areas the ability of the service to meet demand, and growing demand, over this period will be severely constrained by the fact that Covid is still around – so we are still treating Covid patients and recovering Covid patients.
 

“But we are also dealing with this un-met demand which has built up over this period as well as inheriting what happened before Covid, which was already a service under great strain.”

Hungary and Croatia to lift border restrictions

Hungary and Croatia will lift restrictions on cross-border travel from Friday as the coronavirus pandemic has subsided and remains under control in both countries, Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto announced today.

Szijjarto said in a Facebook video that previous border openings with Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic had not caused a spike in new cases.

Hungary has had a relatively modest infection rate, largely thanks to an early and strict lockdown.

As of today, out of a population of 10 million, it has registered 4,027 infections, including 551 deaths, 2,355 recoveries and 1,121 active cases.

France could end emergency health measures next month

The French government is considering whether to end emergency health measures imposed to tackle the pandemic on 10 July.

Prime minister Edouard Philippe’s office today said the possible date of 10 July was one of several options being examined at present.

France has eased many of its earlier strict lockdown measures as data has shown signs the virus may be fading away in the country, with shops, holiday resorts and tourist attractions slowly re-opening.

However the public is still being encouraged to wear face masks when outside and to maintain distances of at least one metre from one another, while most employees are continuing to work from home rather than the office.

Official data published on Tuesday showed France’s coronavirus death toll had risen by 87 to 29,296. This marked the highest daily toll since 2 June, but remained under 100 for the seventh day in a row.

NHS waiting list could double to 10 million by end of year

Around 10 million people will be on the waiting list for NHS treatment by the end of the year – more than double the current figure, health bosses have said.

Projections by the NHS Confederation show that the combined effects of keeping up social distancing, the backlog of treatments and challenges around staffing mean the list is expected to rise from around 4.2 million currently to around 10 million by Christmas.

This is the most realistic scenario, and assumes the health service making a steady return to full capacity within the next 12 months.

The pessimistic scenario, according to the NHS Confederation, assumes a second wave of Covid-19 and a lack of treatments or a vaccine, pushing the waiting list to around 11 million by the end of the year.

The most optimistic scenario assumes a faster return to normal, where the waiting list will be around eight million by the end of the year.

The confederation, which represents health and care leaders, published a new report warning that the health service in England “faces an uphill battle” as it continues to manage thousands of sick and recovering Covid-19 patients while also trying to restart services such as those for cancer, stroke and heart disease.

PA

Zoos in England are to be allowed to reopen their doors to visitors from Monday, after Boris Johnson announced a further relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Also to be permitted to readmit visitors from 15 June will be outdoor attractions where people stay in their cars, such as safari parks and drive-in cinemas, given the low risk of coronavirus transmission.