Call for Boris to restrict travel to Wales
WELSH First Minister Mark Drakeford has written to Boris Johnson to claim his decision not to impose travel restrictions for English lockdown areas is “undermining” Wales’ ability to control the spread of coronavirus.
The letter has been described by Mr Drakeford as a last-ditch attempt to get the Prime Minister to restrict people living under lockdown in England from being able to travel to areas of Wales where levels of the virus are low.
The leader of the Welsh Labour Government has previously warned Wales will use its own powers to restrict entry into the country if Westminster fails to act.
The UK Government has so far only offered voluntary travel guidance and has stopped short of issuing travel bans to areas of England under restrictions, whereas in Wales people living under lockdown can only leave their areas for essential travel such as to go to work.
In his letter sent to Mr Johnson on Tuesday, Mr Drakeford wrote: “I would urge you to consider introducing travel restrictions through regulations in England, to prevent the virus moving from high-prevalence areas to low-prevalence communities, to support our collective response to the virus.
“The voluntary guidance approach has proved ineffective and firmer action is urgently required to keep the virus under control.”
The First Minister goes on to say: “Much of Wales is now under local restriction measures and people living in those areas are prohibited from travelling outside their county boundary without a reasonable excuse.
“This measure is designed to prevent the spread of infection within Wales and to other areas of the UK.
“Our efforts are being undermined by travellers from high-prevalence areas in other parts of the UK travelling to Wales.”