MP: Open the pubs NOW
RULES ARE ‘UNFAIR’, SAYS LEWELL-BUCK
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has been urged to reopen all pubs and restaurants immediately.
MP Emma Lewell-Buck told the Health Secretary that the current rules make no sense, as she spoke in the House of Commons.
At the moment, pubs and restaurants can only serve customers outdoors.
It means those with no outdoor tables can’t open at all.
The rules are set to change on May 17, when customers will be allowed indoors again.
But Ms Lewell-Buck, MP for South Shields, said many venues had set up marquees, partly to protect customers from the cold, and argued that sitting in one of these was effectively the same as sitting indoors.
She said: “Yesterday, many hospitality venues remained closed. Those that could open erected large marquees and were able to recover some of the losses that they have suffered.
“Others were completely dismayed
that there is clearly no difference at all between some of those marquees and well ventilated, Covid-secure indoor hospitality.
“Will the Secretary of State explain what he perceives the difference to be?”
Speaking afterwards, Ms LewellBuck added: “Indoor hospitality should open.
“You’ve got people congregating in supermarkets, queuing inside and outside shops, and it’s far more risky than sitting in a wellventilated, Covid-secure environment.”
Mr Hancock dismissed her comments, pointing out that the official definition of indoors and outdoors for hospitality venues had been drawn up by a previous Labour Government.
He said: “The definition of ‘outdoors’ used in these regulations is the one set out by the Labour Government in the ban on indoor smoking.”
The British Beer and Pub Association has warned that only 40% of pubs in England have been open for outdoors service since new rules began on April 12, and many of these are likely to be making a loss.
The trade body has also criticised plans to stop customers buying drinks at bars, even once indoor customers are allowed.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Not allowing customers to pay at the bar for food or drink in pubs, but allowing it in cafes or shops is completely unfair and illogical.”