This afternoon in the daily Government briefing from Downing Street, Business Secretary Alok Sharma made two things clear, and hospitality won’t like either.
From Sharma’s statements, and replies to members of the public and media, the reopening date of 4th July seems the earliest possible one for hospitality.
It was underlined in bold repeatedly by the Business Secretary in his replies to the journalist from The Times’ questioning. The questioning centred around non-essential shops reopening next Monday, 15th June. Non-essential retailers were given guidance from the Government in how to reopen three weeks in advance. With no similar guidance provided to date for hospitality, unless it is received by this Friday, the 4th July reopening now seems unlikely.
There were many ‘friends’ of hospitality this afternoon in the media asking and pressing Alok Sharma on the 2m distancing policy. Their collective focus was on it being reduced, with questioners citing the World Health Organisations 1m policy guidance.
Question after question and comeback after comeback Sharma continually fell back on a reply stating that the 2m policy was still in force, it would be on Monday 15th June, and will continue to be. He did say that the policy was under review and would continue to be, several times.
The widely reported notion that pubs could be allowed to open earlier than previously planned seems now like wishful thinking. Alok Sharma’s position was firm when he said: “We continue to follow our roadmap, which sets out our ambition to reopen these businesses on 4 July at the earliest.” The emphasis was on “the earliest.”
Despite the Governments generally positive tone in recent weeks, all pointing towards an easing of lockdown, this afternoon’s session showed none of it being directed towards hospitality.
It leaves us asking ourselves, has hospitality been side-lined?
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briefing side-line hospitality – briefing side-line hospitality