THEY CAN’T HEADEY ORGANISE A HEREY PISS-UP HEREY IN A BEER GARDEN!
Minister admits that she lockdown pub rules
BEEN left baffled by the Government’s sort-of lockdown rules?
Well, don’t worry – even MINISTERS don’t have the foggiest what they mean, either!
A Government minister was unable to clarify whether new restrictions banning households in swathes of north-east England from meeting indoors applies to pub and restaurant gardens.
Labour said ministers “don’t know what’s going on”, after Gillian Keegan said she did not fully understand the new rules, just 15 hours before they were to be imposed today.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock had announced a tightening of measures for Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.
Aimed specifically at stopping a resurgence of coronavirus, his department said laws would ban inter-household mixing indoors, including in pubs and restaurants.
But some questioned whether this would include meeting people from other homes outside in hospitality settings.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday, Education Minister Ms Keegan said: “I’m sorry I can’t clarify that. I don’t know the answer to that question… but I’m sure they can find out the answer to that question.”
Pressed on how people are meant to keep up to date with the latest restrictions, when ministers can’t, she said: “I’m sorry I can’t answer that question. I’m sure there are many people who could.
“I don’t represent the North East.”
Labour quickly seized on the failure to clarify the confusion over the laws, set to be imposed after midnight today.
Shadow Health Minister Alex Norris said: “It speaks volumes that even the Government’s own ministers don’t know what’s going on.
Incompetence
“This will do little to inspire public confidence in the North East and across the country.
“The Tories’ incompetence is hampering our response to this pandemic.”