At yesterday’s press conference Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock sought to clarify confusion over the “amber list” of countries, including most European destinations, to which travel is allowed but not encouraged. He also brought in a new slogan that is pretty embarrassing to be fair.
The Prime Minister insisted the position was “very clear” and people should only travel to an amber list country “for some extreme circumstance, such as the serious illness of a family member”.
“You should not be going to an amber list country on holiday,” the Prime Minister told MPs.
Travel
Health Secretary Mr Hancock told a Downing Street press conference: “We have been absolutely crystal clear that you should not go to an amber or red list country on holiday, you should only go in exceptional circumstances.”
But Mr Hancock added “you don’t necessarily have to ban everything” even if the Government advised against it.
This week Environment Secretary George Eustice said people could go to amber-listed countries to visit family or friends as long as they observed quarantine rules on their return, while Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said “some people might think a holiday is essential” and therefore a valid reason to travel.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “The Government has lost control of the messaging.”
Sword of vaccincation
Matt Hancock also sayid Britain will now “carefully replace shield of restrictions with the sword of vaccinations.”
Matt Hancock says Britain will now "carefully replace shield of restrictions with the sword of vaccinations"
— Kate Ferguson (@kateferguson4) May 19, 2021
Reactions
1.
And the tin hat of bullshit https://t.co/gU8k7CwTlV
— Lulu (@Mmelulu) May 19, 2021
2.
To be fair, he couldn't say 'the prick of vaccinations', in case people thought he was referring to himself. https://t.co/5YP9smCLaL
— Steve Analyst (@EmporersNewC) May 19, 2021
3.
What about the helmet of justice? https://t.co/XhudqYwTkz pic.twitter.com/Nngyy2vIVd
— Christina Martin (@christinamartin) May 19, 2021
4.
🎶 bring me my horn of social distance
— Disappointed Optimist (@disappoptimism) May 19, 2021
bring me my hand gel of anti viral🎶 https://t.co/3SU6Cvz3kF
5.
Doing this kind of thing at 5pm on PMQs Day just makes life unnecessarily difficult for sketchwriters. https://t.co/I9eVy3iryl
— Robert Hutton (@RobDotHutton) May 19, 2021
6.
These Pokémon re releases are getting out of hand https://t.co/FCLkeCVw4u
— KYLE (@ItsThatKyle) May 19, 2021
7.
Who writes this nonesense…we're not 12 year old boys in Games Workshop. https://t.co/2tzDUWsOub
— Kate Proctor (@Kate_M_Proctor) May 19, 2021
9.
Matt Hancock makes me not want to use metaphors ever again https://t.co/B0BBJfX6tZ
— Prof Damien Page (@damien_page) May 19, 2021
10.
does he know people held shields and swords at the same time https://t.co/hx7Ny6oVR3
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) May 19, 2021
11.
I choose to also wield the mace of social distancing and the +3 blessed robe of working at home https://t.co/EqaKOmdlYL
— Dan Hett (@danhett) May 19, 2021
12.
Classic Hancock: 'the sword of the vaccination programme.'
— Ned Simons (@nedsimons) May 19, 2021
13.
I shall be keeping my shield of restriction up, as my sword of vaccination is only half unsheathed… pic.twitter.com/4Di0smWiVj
— Tall Man with Glasses 🙌 😷 🚀 (@stuartwitts) May 19, 2021
13.
I know satire is tricky at present but no-one should use the phrase 'sword of vaccination' if their name is Hancock.
— Ian Moore – Author – Pre-Order Hardback now! (@MonsieurLeMoore) May 19, 2021
14.
I think the plan soon afterwards is to replace the soiled underpants of lockdown with the brand spanking new trousers of freedom.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) May 19, 2021
Related: Rejoin EU by-election candidate is former Tory who thinks Brexit is broken
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