Michael Gove has defended the government’s controversial decision to exempt hunting and shooting from ‘rule of six’ restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the Covid inquiry today, Gove, who was minister for the Cabinet Office during the pandemic, said he wanted “horizontal rules” that applied to all forms of outdoor activity and did not want to “stoke an argument” over hunting.
On 20 September 2020, “sports gatherings” including shooting and hunting were exempted from ‘rule of six’ measures that restricted people from gathering in groups greater than six indoors or outdoors. The exemption meant shooting and hunting parties could gather in groups of up to 30 people.
