‘Irresponsible’ Charles Walker blasts no summer holidays – ‘there’s no excuse’
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The vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs branded the comments from the Transport Secretary “totally irresponsible”. Speaking to Sky News, Sir Charles said: “Last year, summer holidays went ahead, caseload was very low. This year we have a vaccine with very high efficacy rates.
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“I’m afraid there is no excuse.”
Mr Shapps on Wednesday morning suggested restrictions on travel to and from the UK might only be lifted once other European nations catch up with London in administering the coronavirus vaccine.
It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced people returning to England from 33 “red list” destinations would have to pay £1,750 to quarantine for 10 days in government-designated hotels.
Those caught lying about their movements could be fined £10,000 or jailed for 10 years.
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Sir Charles added: “Are we really going to lock people up for ten years for being dishonest about the fact they’ve been to Portugal?
“By all means give them a fine, give them a hefty fine.
“But are you really seriously suggesting Mr Hancock that we’ve got enough prison capacity to start locking up 19-year-old silly kids for ten years?
“What a stupid thing to say, I mean a really stupid thing to say.
“It demeans his office and his position around the Cabinet table.
Leisure travel is prohibited under the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown, but the travel industry is desperate for rules to be relaxed in time for the vital summer season.
Asked on BBC Breakfast what needs to change for restrictions on overseas travel to be lifted, Mr Shapps replied: “First of all, everybody having their vaccinations.”
Pressed on whether the rules will remain in place until that happens, he said “yes”, before explaining that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out a “road map” for relaxing lockdown measures on February 22.
He added: “It depends on both the level of vaccination here and, critically, elsewhere.
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“We’ve done 13 million-plus vaccinations, which is just more than the whole of the EU put together.
“So we’ll need to wait for other countries to catch up as well in order to be able to do that wider international unlock, because we can only control the situation here.”
Mr Shapps told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “people shouldn’t be booking holidays right now – not domestically or internationally”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman later said booking a summer holiday is “a choice for individuals”.
He added that the February 22 announcement will “allow people to have a greater knowledge and understanding of the path going forward”.