Seema Malhotra – 2021 Comments on Self-Isolation Exemptions

The comments made by Seema Malhotra, the Shadow Minister for Business and Consumers, on 22 July 2021.

Businesses and the public have a right to be furious at the Government’s chaotic decision making which is causing confusion and uncertainty. Ministers have done so many U-turns this week they must be dizzy. The country needs leadership, not a government in a tailspin.

It makes sense to exempt certain fully vaccinated professionals, such as those working in emergency services, from self-isolation rules through a targeted test to release scheme to keep our country running. But the Government has made a mess of its own policy and is undermining the effectiveness of the rule change.

If Ministers don’t know or can’t decide what the plan is, how can employers possibly be expected to understand what’s required of them?

The Government must today come forward with a clear, unambiguous list of critical workers and a workable plan for how exemptions will be applied.

This chaotic decision-making and make it up as you go along approach starts right at the top with Boris Johnson. It’s bad for public health and it’s bad for our economy too.