A top Tory Minister has remained unapologetic for booking a summer holiday in Cornwall while his government colleagues have been telling the public to forget about taking a break at home or abroad.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed he booked his summer break “months ago” and that the government was doing “everything we can” so people can have a summer holiday.
Hancock told a meeting on Wednesday night of Tory MPs who want lockdown restrictions to be lifted that he had booked his getaway.
Around the same time the Prime Minister told a press conference it was “just too early” for people to be certain about what they can do in the summer.
Scots have already been advised by Jason Leitch, Scotland’s national clinical director, not book summer holidays this year because the coronavirus situation globally and nationally is so uncertain.
Nicola Sturgeon also advised Scots not to start booking summer holidays abroad despite the rollout of coronavirus vaccinations.
Asked to confirm his summer holiday plans Hancock told BBC Breakfast: “Yes, I booked it months ago. So that’s what I really hope we can do.
“I’ve said before that I hope we can have a great British summer and we are working incredibly hard to make sure that can happen.”
He also said the rollout of coronavirus vaccines was “absolutely essential” for summer holidays to take place
Hancock insisted that Ministers have been on the same wavelength on holidays despite the Prime Minister and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps were giving conflicting advice over recent days
He said: “What we have all been saying is we will do everything we can to make sure that people can have a holiday but these are times where there is uncertainty.”
“That’s something people really understand - especially after the last year, people really get that. “The fact that we have all been talking in exactly the same terms that there is uncertainty but we want to bring an end to that uncertainty.”
Grant Shapps declared on Wednesday morning: “People shouldn’t be booking holidays right now – not domestically or internationally.”
By lunchtime Downing Street said it was a “choice for individuals”.
Earlier this month, Boris Johnson said he was “optimistic” about summer holidays.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth called for ministers to give families guidance as soon as possible.
He said: “Matt Hancock was saying we are going to have a great summer – get your summer holidays booked. Boris Johnson was saying hold your horses yesterday so people just need to know where they stand.
“We need clarity from ministers as to what we think will happen so we can plan.”
