Ministers complete embarrassing U-turn on travel 'ban' for Indian variant hotspots with guidance changed to urge people to 'minimise' visits after huge outcry from local leaders
The Government caused chaos after a change to online guidance told people they could only make 'essential' trips to and from Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside. The shift went unnoticed for four days before ministers scrambled to explain why there had been no formal announcement. No10 tried to contain a growing backlash among local Tory and Labour leaders yesterday by stressing that the guidance was 'not statutory'. However, last night the government caved into pressure and changed the wording of the advice, which now merely states that people should 'minimise travel in and out of affected areas'. The Department of Health said it wanted to 'make it clearer we are not imposing local restrictions'.
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The Government caused chaos after a change to online guidance told people they could only make 'essential' trips to and from Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside. The shift went unnoticed for four days before ministers scrambled to explain why there had been no formal announcement. No10 tried to contain a growing backlash among local Tory and Labour leaders yesterday by stressing that the guidance was 'not statutory'. However, last night the government caved into pressure and changed the wording of the advice, which now merely states that people should 'minimise travel in and out of affected areas'. The Department of Health said it wanted to 'make it clearer we are not imposing local restrictions'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9620033/Ministers-complete-U-turn-travel-ban-Indian-variant-hotspots.html