Tory MP squirms in grilling over ‘chaotic’ travel advice as party fractures emerge
Gillian Keegan grilled on UK's 'chaotic' travel restrictions
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Apprenticeship Minister Gillian Keegan appeared on Sky News where she and the Government were accused of peddling “chaotic” travel advice following reports Chancellor Rishi Sunak has waded into the quarantine row and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitting he was not there when the France amber-plus list addition was made. Ms Keegan argued the Government was looking to strike a “balance” between allowing people to travel but giving them ample time to prepare for any COVID-19 changes. Sky News host Stephen Dixon was not happy with the answer as he pointed out ministers have told him they wanted to keep the amber watch lists whereas others, like Ms Keegan, wanted to get rid of it.
Speaking on Sky News, Ms Keegan discussed the travel fiasco ahead of the Government’s review on Thursday with the BBC reporting the amber watchlist will be scrapped.
The addition of the list would tell travellers that some locations could dramatically shift onto the red list meaning they would be required to isolate on return.
Ms Keegan said the Government “clearly wants to open up travel” but Mr Dixon pointed out there were extremely confusing and antagonistic messaging being leaked by the Government which has only confused people.
He told the minister: You’re quite right and I’m sure everybody agrees it’s not simple and it’s not straightforward because nothing has been with this pandemic.
“But a minister, this time yesterday telling me we needed a watch list because it gives people more clarity.
“Today you’re saying well we don’t need a watch list because it’s all about giving people, clarity and ease of choice – No wonder people think this is confusing and chaotic.”
Ms Keegan bluntly replied: “Well, maybe they better wait till the government actually announces what it’s going to do as opposed to the speculation.
“As I say the Transport Secretary will be laying it out on Thursday but there’s no doubt that we are exploring all options and getting that balance between giving people enough notice and warning but also making it so that it’s simple enough.
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“I was out the weekend and I was asking people just generally did they understand it and it is difficult and people have different interpretations.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has intervened in the travel debate and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to open up travel for the sake of the economy.
The letter, which was picked up by the Sunday Times, has been speculated as being a power move by Mr Sunak for a potential leadership challenge following a Conservative Home poll which finds the Chancellor should be the next prime minister after Mr Johnson.
Last week, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed he was “not in the room” when the decision was made to put France on the amber-plus list.
France was added to the list in response to a surge in the Beta variant but it was revealed most of the cases were isolated on the French island, Reunion.
French authorities have branded the travel ban as “discriminatory” as any travellers entering the UK from France will be required to quarantine – regardless of vaccination status.
Mr Shapps revealed the decision to add France on the amber-plus list was in fact down to the surge of Beta variant cases in northern France and not just on Reunion.
The Government is set to review its travel rule as part of its three-week review period with many speculating the Government will climb down from its French exclusion.
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