A Government business minister has defended under-fire manufacturing businesses that have come under fire for staying open through the coronavirus outbreak.
Nadhim Zahawi said there had been "unfair criticism" of bosses who have not shut down operations as he emphasised the need to "minimise the damage to our economy".
He said as long as they followed social distancing rules, businesses had every right to stay open provided they did not fall into categories ordered to be shut, such as bars and restaurants.
Mr Zahawi, a junior minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said criticism of companies trying to keep operating was stoked by those who "hate" the private sector.
"These are difficult times for businesses, as they are for all of us. We cannot allow those who hate the private sector to use this crisis as an excuse to pile unfair criticism on them," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
"These businesses need to be defended, because we need to minimise the damage to our economy where possible, and be ready to spring back into action as soon as this lockdown is over. There will always be some work that cannot be done from home, whether it is construction or packing boxes in an Amazon warehouse - but we still need houses built and for deliveries to be made.
"If the scientific view changes, and all of this work becomes too high a risk, the Government will update its advice. But until then businesses should not be criticised for following the rules."
As reported, there has been confusion across the piste, with leading kitchen manufacturer Wren and warehouse operations of fashion firms Matalan and Next coming in for strong criticism from employees, unions and some politicians. The latter closed all sales operations late last week.
Elsewhere construction sites have been abandoned, despite guidance to keep building where possible, with issues over supplies adding to the practicality of enforcing social distancing.
