Devon MPs and political leaders have been left split over the Government’s decision to delay ‘freedom day’ and push back step four of the roadmap for a further four weeks.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the final easing of lockdown restrictions in England would be halted and that the ‘not before’ June 21 date would not be enacted.
He announced that a new July 19 ‘terminus date’ was when all restrictions on social contact could be lifted, barring the emergence of a game-changing new variant, although there was the unlikely scenario in two weeks’ time when if the data is better than expected, restrictions could be lifted earlier.
The announcement means that social distancing guidance will remain in place, as will the guidance to work from home, while the ‘rule of six’ indoors and the ‘rule of 30’ outdoors continues.
The delay means the reopening of nightclubs will be postponed, but an exemption was made for wedding ceremonies, although venues will still have to adhere to social distancing rules.
Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP for Exeter, said that he would have to carefully study the proposals, but that he would be unlikely to support the extension of restrictions when they go to a vote in the House of Commons later this week.
He said: “We are paying a very heavy price for Boris Johnson’s failure to put India on the red list when he should have done because he was prioritising an illusory post Brexit trade deal with India. That means that, in spite of being ahead on vaccines, we are now to be subject to much tighter restrictions than the rest of Europe and America – who are opening up and where life is returning to normal.
“Thousands more job losses can now be expected in the hospitality, culture and travel industries – just when they should be on the road to recovery."

But Sir Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, backed the delay in moving to step four. He said: “It seems that it is prudent to delay the final release to enable more people to be vaccinated.
“I urge everyone who is entitled to get a jab to come forward and do so and then by mid-July we can see a full release of the lockdown and start to claw our way back to the new normality that awaits us.”
Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, added: “I am disappointed that a full unlocking cannot go ahead on June 21, but I do accept the need to delay. The Delta variant has meant that the Prime Minister has had no choice but to be cautious. However, even a short delay will have an adverse impact on certain sectors, especially the hospitality industry, and so I will be seeking further support from the Government to help businesses through the additional period of restrictions.”
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said that from a public health perspective, and with case numbers rising again across the country and with a much more transmissible variant now the dominant strain, delaying the further lifting of restrictions would be sensible.
He said: “Not only would that maintain the rules around social contact, but the delay would also allow more people to receive their first or second jabs, offering them valuable protection against this latest strain.
“I ask all Devon residents to be patient. We will get there, but we need to move with great caution."

And Devon County Council leader, Cllr John Hart, said: "We need to close the gap between the proportion of our population who’ve had two jabs and those who’ve only had one because the difference in protection is very, very marked. I think many residents of Devon will be pleased with this delay as the county has already been very busy with visitors, but I have to repeat my plea to the Government to ensure that our hospitality businesses continue to receive support."