Keighley and Ilkley’s MP has called on the government to scrap much of their proposed Plan B restrictions and will vote against the proposals in the House of Commons today.
Last week, the government set out plans for additional restrictions, including the introduction of guidance to work from home – which the MP describes as ‘nonsensical’ given that under such guidance individuals will still be able to join colleagues in the pub – and COVID Passes, which will require double vaccination, or a negative lateral flow test, in order to be able to enter certain venues.
The MP has serious concerns about plans to work from home, which will hit the local economy hard. It will be difficult – or impossible – for smaller businesses and has a huge impact on retail and hospitality businesses that serve people going to offices.
A survey conducted earlier this year by the Royal Society for Public Health revealed that 29% of people thought working from home was worse for their health and wellbeing, whilst 67% felt less connected to colleagues, and 46% reported taking less exercise.
Mr. Moore also has serious concerns about plans to roll out COVID passes, with fears they will soon be rolled out to other venues, such as pubs, restaurants, and supermarkets, which would place a huge unnecessary burden on local businesses across Keighley and Ilkley.
Research published in the medical journal The Lancet in October revealed that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID can be just as infectious as the unvaccinated, and therefore based on current data, Mr Moore doesn’t believe the Covid Pass is the best strategy.
The MP wants the focus to be on the booster programme, with more than 22 million people now boosted, and a target of offering all over 18’s the chance of a booster by the end of the year.
Robbie Moore MP said “We cannot continue to live in never-ending restrictions which turn on and off as new variants appear. The impact on businesses, livelihoods and the economy is far too great. It will be our small independent businesses, that are the backbone of our local economy that will suffer the most.
“I cannot support the Government’s proposed Plan B measures of COVID Passes and guidance to ‘work from home’ and I will be voting against these plans.
“Working from home makes no sense if you can still go to the pub with work colleagues, and COVID Passes would place an unnecessary burden on our businesses, and if they are approved, they could be quickly expanded to other business and hospitality settings.
“The focus must be entirely on the vaccination program, and encourage all to get boosted now!”
