There have been a further 38 deaths from coronavirus in the UK, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health and Social Care, taking the total to 41,736. Senior Tory MPs have publicly urged Boris Johnson to cut the 2 metre distancing rule in England with immediate effect, in interventions underling the scale of discontent about the issue in his party. Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across the country have been slated to reopen on 4 July, but they do not yet know whether they will have to abide by the 2 metre rule at all times – something many say would mean they will not be viable businesses. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab told the daily Downing Street press conference that there was nothing “magic” about the two-metre rule, in comments likely to be seen as hint that the regulation could be relaxed soon. The shadow justice secretary, David Lammy, has condemned Boris Johnson’s plan for a government commission to examine racial inequalities as “written on the back of a fag packet” and intended as a distraction from the government’s lack of action over the issue. Lammy accused the prime minister of primarily seeking a culture war by announcing the plan in a comment piece for the Daily Telegraph, which was devoted mainly to reiterating his opposition to removing statues of historical figures. Boris Johnson has received a boost to plans to secure a trade deal with the European Union by the end of the summer after EU leaders agreed to strive to find early common ground on trade and security to avoid unnecessary economic chaos next year. But there were immediate signs of tensions on the horizon with the president of the EU council, Charles Michel, warning in tweets that the EU would not accept a “pig in the poke” and it would “never accept an agreement that goes against interests of the union”. Long queues of shoppers formed outside some stores around England on the first day that non-essential shops were allowed to reopen for business since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed. Figures showed that between 8am and midday footfall on England’s high streets was up by 51.7% on last Monday, while across all retail destinations there were 41.7% more shoppers as shopping centres saw a smaller rise. That’s it from us for today. Thanks for reading.