Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants saying it was “better than having places closed”.
The Government is under pressure from Toy MPs to abandon the curfew amid claims there is no evidence that it is preventing the spread of coronavirus while it is damaging business.
However, Mr Sunak told BBC Breakfast: “The curfew was something we were told by our advisers could well make a difference to the spread of the transmission. We know social contact is how the virus spreads.
“In common with many other countries around the world this is thought to be something that can help suppress the spread of the virus. We are not an outlier in having a curfew.
“As a tool we have at our disposal to try and suppress the spread of the virus, it is one that is advised across the board can make a difference.
“What I would say is it is better than having places closed.”
Mr Sunak has said his priority is to protect as many jobs as possible from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his speech to the Conservative Party’s virtual conference on Monday Mr Sunak warned the country faced “hard choices” as it rebuilt the public finances.
But speaking to Sky News on Tuesday he said that would have to be achieved “over time” and that his immediate focus was on employment.
“My overall focus at the moment is trying to protect as many jobs as possible. What is happening in our economy at the moment is significant and severe, many people are losing their jobs,” he said.
“So the focus of my intention in the short term is doing what we can to support as much employment as possible.
“Over time we need to have sustainable public finances. That is important to me, it is important to the Government, but in the short term the best way to have long-term sustainable public finances is to protect as much employment as possible.”
