Brits 'won't have to wait long' for more safe travel destinations, Grant Shapps has said.
The Transport Secretary said he was sure travel would bounce back when restrictions are relaxed - but Brits shouldn't expect a large expansion of the green list when it's first updated in early June
He told the Financial Times: “I don’t think people have a very long time to wait before other countries are able to join the green list.”
He added: "If you look at France’s vaccination rate, they’re six or eight weeks behind us."
The Government is due to announce updates to the list in the first week of June, taking effect on June 7 - and every three weeks going forward - but the FT report a large expansion of the green list is not expected.
Mr Shapps suggested vaccinations could change the game as time goes on.
“One assumes the vaccination will work the same if you live in France or the UK or wherever,” he said.
It comes after a week of confused messaging from the government on the circumstances on which it is acceptable to travel to amber list countries - and the penalties for doing so.
It is legal to travel to amber list countries for any reason - but the government is discouraging the public from doing so for anything but the most "essential" reasons. People who do travel to amber list countries will not be fined - but must isolate at home for 10 days upon their return.
But over the past seven days, ministers and Tory MPs have variously said it was OK to travel to amber list countries for holidays, urged the public not to, said holidays counted as an "essential" reason to travel, suggested any overseas travel this year should be avoided - and warned people going on a "jolly" would face fines on their return.
Meanwhile, Matt Hancock insisted the government's communications have been "crystal clear".
Asked about the confusion - and whether people should travel to amber list countries, Mr Shapps told the FT: "Don't do it."
And he wouldn't rule out tighter controls on travel in the future.
“Of course we’ll keep an eye on it,” he said. “But we don’t like restricting people’s freedoms.”
Today Spain - which remains on the amber list - announced it was to allow British holidaymakers to enter the country again.
And yesterday the European Union reached a provisional deal on COVID-19 certificates designed to open up tourism across the 27-nation bloc this summer.
MEPs and current EU president Portugal representing the bloc's 27 members sealed the agreement after a fourth round of negotiations on Thursday afternoon.
