Travel bosses warn Patel over quarantine

BOSSES of some of Britain’s biggest travel and hospitality companies have warned Priti Patel that they have lost confidence in her over the “misguided” quarantine policy, and urged her to quit if she loses a court case over it.

In a letter to the Home Secretary, leaders of the group – which includes hotelier and Tory donor Sir Rocco Forte – warn that 1.7 million jobs are being put at risk by a policy they say renders economic recovery “impossible”.

“How have we ended up with a policy that seeks to drive the final nails into the coffin of a once-thriving domestic and international tourism industry?” said George Morgan-grenville, leader of the Quash Quarantine group and chief executive of tour operator Red Savannah. “What possible basis could there be for such a misguided strategy?”

The group comprises more than 400 travel, hotel and hospital businesses.

It follows Friday’s filing of a High Court legal action by British Airways’ parent company IAG, together with Ryanair and easyjet, to block the policy.

The group said that pending the outcome of the case, “it would be fair to say that many in the leadership of the travel and hospitality industry have lost confidence in you as Home Secretary”.

Ms Patel has maintained quarantine is necessary to prevent a second wave of coronavirus and a Tory source hit back, saying: “It is no surprise that the airline industry are focusing on their bottom line over public safety.”

The Department for Transport is currently “actively working” on “travel corridors” to low-risk countries to allow holidaymakers to sidestep the 14day quarantine.