Act now on Xmas plans, Brown tells Johnson
GORDON Brown has told Boris Johnson to “act now” and tell people across the UK how they can spend Christmas together.
The ex-prime minister urged PM Johnson to accept that tighter lockdowns may have to be kept in place next month to allow restrictions to be relaxed over Christmas.
Brown said: “I found being prime minister you’ve got to be two steps ahead of events. You can’t be behind the curve. You’ve always got to be anticipating the next problem. And what Boris Johnson’s got to do is say, ‘Look, if there is any doubt about whether we can lower the restrictions at Christmas, we’ve got to act now’.”
He added: “Put in the measures in the next few days that make it possible for us to make a reasoned decision about what we do in the Christmas week. You have to act now. Talking about what happens after Christmas is not as good as talking about what Boris Johnson could do today.”
Ministers from all the devolved nations are in talks with the UK Government on how to have a UK-wide approach to Christmas rules but nothing has been decided yet.
Nicola Sturgeon said Scots may be able to form a Christmas “bauble” over the festive season to allow families to meet indoors.
The First Minister coined the pun as she revealed talks between devolved administrations and the UK Government were being held on easing lockdown restrictions next month.
But Brown said if ministers are worried they cannot have a relaxation at Christmas, they need to bring in tight measures now.
He added: “Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Boris Johnson have to get together and find a basis on which we can have common rules so people can, if it’s possible, travel to see their loved ones.”