MoS survey: 85% say they complied with Christmas clampdown rules

AN OVERWHELMING number of people obeyed Boris Johnson’s Christmas visiting clampdown – despite widespread disruption to their festive celebrations.

A snap poll for The Mail on Sunday revealed that almost threequarters of people backed the Prime Minister’s decision to impose more severe restrictions.

The survey showed that 73 per cent agreed with the move to cancel plans for family mixing in tier 4 areas and limit it to just one day together elsewhere.

This was despite 34 per cent of people being forced to change their Christmas Day plans by no longer meeting friends or family members such as parents and siblings – a figure that rose to 51 per cent in the tier 4 areas of London and the South East.

A total of 11 per cent said they had to spend the day alone because of the clampdown.

The survey, by findoutnow.co.uk, asked those affected how they felt about not seeing loved ones – 11 per cent responded by saying ‘lonely’, but 20 per cent answered ‘safer’. A total of 45 per cent described feeling ‘sad’, while a candid six per cent

‘Royals take some blame for non-compliance’

admitted being ‘relieved’. Government officials admit to being surprised by the extent to which the Covid rules have been followed, and that is borne out by the poll, with just 15 per cent saying they defied the rules.

Of those who ignored the restrictions, 58 per cent said they did so because seeing their families was more important; 28 per cent didn’t think the rules were fair and 17 per cent did not believe the risks.

The researchers found that the Royal Family bears some responsibility for any non-observance – but largely among the young. A photograph published last week showing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge mingling in breach of the rule of six was cited by 19 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 as making them less inclined to obey social-distancing rules. Among the over65s the figure was just 7 per cent.

The economic i mpact of t he measures is highlighted by the fact that 86 per cent of people were planning to avoid the Boxing Day sales this year.

The survey found that most people did not share the Government’s optimism that the rollout of the vaccine programme will lead to the lifting of lockdown measures by the spring. Only six per cent of those questioned think the UK will return to normality by April, rising to a total of 22 per cent who hope we will be unencumbered by July. Only 44 per cent believe things will go back to normality within a year.

No 10 will be cheered by the extent to which Mr Johnson is trusted over the measures. When asked whether they believed the evidence provided by the Prime Minister to justify the new restrictions a total of 55 per cent said they did, while just 20 per cent said they did not. And when they were asked whether they blamed Mr Johnson for disrupting their Christmas plans, 20 per cent said ‘very much’ but 40 per cent said ‘not at all’.

Find Out Now surveyed 42,308 respondents between December 19 and 26.

Before judging those who left London last weekend after the tier 4 announcement, we should remember that the majority of them were probably young professionals whose only alternative was Christmas alone, in a tiny flat with no outdoor space. Given how challenging 2020 has been, is it any wonder they wanted to see their families and enjoy some home comforts?

T. Ross, Surrey

Regarding your article about the exodus from London last Saturday night, the problem is the lack of consistency. From the very start Boris Johnson has promised that it’s all going to be fine and has then had to turn around a week later and respond to changing events.

He should never have promised five days of Christmas freedom in the first place – it was obvious that it was not realistic.

The damage is already done so the PM should start teeing up the inevitable January lockdown now, and then people won’t be surprised when it happens.

Jay Smith, Manchester

You quoted journalist Harriet Clugston last week, who was prepared to get on a crowded train with lots of strangers to go to her family for Christmas. No wonder much of the South is in tier 4. Those people who travelled, potentially passing the virus on to their families, should be ashamed of themselves.

Peter Ward, Newcastle upon Tyne

Your photograph looked like a normal evening at a London train station. Remember that most Londoners live in the suburbs.

Sally West, London

This article just illustrates the North-South divide. If it was the North or the Midlands being put in tier 4 and residents were scrambling to leave, we would never hear the end of it.

R. Fox, Oxford

The Army should have locked down London and stopped them from leaving.

David Wellington, Bedford

All Covid has taught us is how selfish some people are. It’s devastating for them, I understand, but the rest of the country only gets one day because of this too despite a lowering in cases. The quicker we comply, the quicker it goes away.

Claire Gordon, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Government gave people a silly deadline. Before this, travel was staggered over several days. Instead we had five days’ worth of travelling in four hours. Anyone could have told the Government that this chaos would ensue.

L. Daniels, London

It’s not just here. The whole of Europe is going through the same thing – late-notice lockdowns in many countries and U-turns. My relatives in a small town in southern Spain have been confined by police blockades for weeks, and Italy also cancelled Christmas and New Year.

K. White, Milton Keynes