The government’s border policy has become an increasing cause of bemusement among MPs and the country at large. The UK did not close its borders during the first lockdown when countries such as New Zealand did. When they did eventually bring in tighter border restrictions, it was just at the point Conservative MPs thought they ought to be opening up.
This time around, things are stricter, yet there were still delays. A new requirement to have a negative Covid test 72 hours before travelling to the UK has been brought in but even that had little sense of urgency with confusion over whether it would come into effect last Friday or Monday.
Border restrictions will be in place for some time, even if the vaccine rollout goes well.
Now the Cabinet divisions over the policy are coming to light. Guido Fawkes has obtained a recording of Priti Patel speaking at a Conservative event this week in which she said that she called for the borders to be shut last March.
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