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What? Ask elected officials to adhere to the same orders they impose on their citizens?
Here’s the deal…
With Covid-19 cases soaring since the UK reopened its pubs and restaurants, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put in place new restrictions to hopefully reign things in.
Under the new rules announced on September 22, pubs and restaurants will be forced to close by 10pm and will be restricted to table service only (read: no carousing). Bar and wait staff are now required by law to wear face masks, and there will be stiffer penalties for anyone breaking the new rules.
But evidently those new restrictions didn’t extend to the lawmakers that dictate them…
News that Parliament was not legally bound by the same rules as hospitality businesses across England, first reported by The Times Red Box, was understandably met by criticism
BrewDog’s Jamer Watt Calls bullshit on goverment officials
The Members’ Dining Room, Adjournment, Smoking Room, Terrace Pavilion, Pugin Room and Members’ Tea Room are all classed as “workplace canteens” as they provide a food and bar service in Westminster. And under that designation, none of them were affected by the Prime Minister’s 10pm curfew
Those workplace bars were also not obliged to take customers’ contact details, canteen staff and customers not obliged to follow stricter health and safety measures mandated by Johnson last week.
This prompted a swift backlash from those in and out of the industry, particularly since some argued that the 10pm curfew could impact as much as 50% of a bar’s weekly sales.
“After Barnard Castle I thought the leadership of this country could not become any more hypocritical,” James Watt, co-founder of craft beer and pub group BrewDog, Tweeted. “Unfortunately I was wrong. With so many lives & livelihoods on the line, our country deserves better.”
Responding to the uproar the government was quick to backpedal on the policy which has now been extended to include the UK’s House of Commons.
Want more UK governmental COVID-19 hypocrisy?
There’s this…
