Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Reluctant’ support for longer lockdown
The government’s decision to extend lockdown restrictions has received a mixed reaction.
Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the current rules will last beyond June 21.
The extension comes amid rising concern over the Delta Covid variant, but it comes as a massive blow for businesses – especially those in the hospitality sector.
Ashford MP Damian Green says he will vote for extending the restrictions, but “reluctantly”.
He said: “I say reluctantly, because I want to see everything go back to normal as soon as possible.
“However I accept the argument that a month’s more vaccination will give us a much greater degree of safety – it’s very encouraging that the second doses provide 90% or more protection.
“But I will take an awful lot of convincing if the government comes back and says it has to be extended further than July 19.
“The biggest disaster for business would be to unlock then be locked up again. I think a smooth path out of lockdown is very important for business, so there will certainly be shortterm pain but if in return we can be pretty much guaranteed we won’t go through it again then it will be worth it.”
He added that it’s a “reasonable risk” to allow weddings to proceed with theoretically unlimited numbers, considering the disruption and postponements that have been made to wedding plans over the last year.
Cllr Brendan Chilton, Ashford’s Labour group leader and Stanhope representative on Ashford Borough Council, is unhappy at the extension.
He said: “While many aspects of people’s normal lives have somewhat returned to normal, there are many businesses and people who are still affected by the restrictions.
“Many in the hospitality sector are struggling to make ends meet due to the limited numbers they can serve - an extension of another month is only going to damage their businesses further and make it more difficult for them to be sustained.
“The government has let people down and broken its promise to end restrictions on June 21.
“If they’re aiming to achieve a zero Covid rate before we can all be released, that will never be achieved. It’s ridiculous to pursue that policy, because we’re never going to eradicate Covid.”