The government faces fury today over its "disastrous" announcement of new coronavirus rules for millions of people in northern England.
Chaos reigned after people in the whole of Greater Manchester, and parts of East Lancashire and West Yorkshire, were told they could no longer meet people from another household indoors.
The ban - which took effect from midnight at three hours' notice - includes all indoor settings, be they private homes or pubs, as well as private gardens.
Not even some local public health directors knew about the announcement until Matt Hancock made it in a short video clip after 9pm.
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