Friday 26 March 2021 COVID-19 - Weekly Round-up - Heart of London ...
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COVID-19 – Weekly Round-up
Friday 26 March 2021
Heart of London Business Alliance is committed to ensuring our members receive the support they need while the
situation in relation to COVID-19 is fast-changing. Our Daily Bulletin provides you with an update on the important
announcements and guidance from the Government. In addition, it is recommended that our members monitor the
GOV.UK website for guidance regarding COVID-19.
Together with our local Member of Parliament, Nickie Aiken, Heart of London will continue to lobby Government
for support for our members and your employees during this difficult time.
One year on
23rd March: On Tuesday, the nation paused as it marked a year since Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the
first national lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. The UK observed a minute’s silence at noon,
while people across the country came to their doorsteps, torches lit, at 8pm signifying a “beacon of remembrance”.
Addressing the British public at a press conference that evening, the Prime Minister praised the populace for their
spirit shown throughout the past year and paid respect to those who have sadly passed. He noted that the nation
was “step by step, jab by jab” slowly returning back to normality. Plans to erect a permanent memorial to those lost
to the disease – currently over 126,000 – are currently being drawn up, while an official commemoration period once
restrictions are lifted is also expected to be introduced.
Inquiry calls grow louder
While pledges to remember and commemorate are undoubtedly welcome, the desire of the opposition to see an
inquiry into the events of the past 12 months continues to grow. Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on
Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer again demanded a “full public inquiry” into the Government’s response
to coronavirus. With the UK having considerably the highest death toll in Europe despite repeated lockdowns, one
suspects there will be plenty for such an inquiry to begin to take aim at, from test and trace funding, to border
controls and the Dominic Cummings saga.
The opposition has suggested that the investigation begin on the 21st June, alongside the date muted as the relaxation
of all COVID-19 restrictions. In response to these growing calls, the Government has remained steadfast in its stance
to not hurry an inquiry. Explaining his reasoning, Johnson stated that such swift action would see the energies of
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officials within Whitehall “irresponsibly” diverted while vital work continues on helping the country control the virus
and emerge from lockdown.
Perceived by some as the Government kicking the inquiry into the long grass, calls for action are unlikely to abate.
Government messaging must therefore be deliberate and cautious going forward to avoid the goodwill earned via
the vaccine rollout being eroded away by a perceived unwillingness to face tough questioning.
Sturgeon adds to the pressure
North of the border, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs on Monday that should her Government be
elected after the 6 May Holyrood elections, that an inquiry in Scotland would become a clear priority of her
Government. Often beaten to the mark by Sturgeon throughout the pandemic, the UK Government will no doubt
have met Sturgeon’s claim with some weariness.
EU toy with vaccine export controls
25th March: The European Union gave itself the option of tougher new measures on vaccine exports this week, with
new measures proposed that would allow Brussels the choice to make it almost impossible for jabs to be exported
to nations with strong vaccine rollouts such as the UK, without confirmation that inoculations will flow the other
way. Language in the proposals regarding “reciprocity and proportionality” ensure the UK is a prime candidate for
targeting.
Conversations between UK and EU officials ran throughout this week in a bid to head off the implementation of
these measures. Despite the best efforts of the UK Government and the publishing of a joint statement regarding co-
operation on Wednesday, efforts ultimately proved unfruitful. This week’s row centred around a stockpile of jab
components currently located in Leiden, Netherlands, due to be exported to the UK imminently. It is thought that
Dutch authorities would maintain the unimpeded operation of exports from the facility, yet that power can now be
taken out of their hands should the EU choose to do so.
The EU also finds itself further divided on vaccines, with the emergence of undisclosed vaccine stockpiles in Italy this
week only adding to the tension.
The true effect of the new policy on the UK’s vaccine rollout is as yet unknown, with leaders across the EU split.
Speaking yesterday, Von der Leyen appeared to suggest such measures could be deployed against the UK soon, while
the Dutch Prime Minister stated that he hopes the approved measures are never used, such would be the damage to
supply chains and international relationships. These further complications, in addition to ongoing issues with the
Serum Institute of India, make an unwelcome combination to the UK’s confidence in the continued speed of its
vaccine rollout.
Vaccine certification proves to be a contentious issue
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24th March: Speaking on Wednesday to the Liaison Committee, Prime Minister Boris Johnson opted for a
deliberately cautious and neutral tone when discussing the potential for vaccine certification to be required in certain
circumstances within the UK. A Government review into if such certification would enable the nation to emerge
from restrictions quicker will be headed up by Michael Gove. Already, travel companies and various nations across
the globe have suggested that certification will be required to help the tourism industry quickly back onto its feet.
Responding to the Prime Minister during the committee session, prominent Conservative back bencher Steve Baker
MP, espoused great worry regarding the Government’s seeming open-mindedness to the policy. Describing the
concept as a “ghastly trap”. Baker represented the views of many others in Parliament and over 300,000 signatories
to a petition on the issue, who fear human rights would be infringed upon as a result. It is clear therefore that any
domestic variation of this policy is likely to prove divisive, something to be considered by Gove before he gives more
detail on plans in early April.
Furthermore, the requirements of certification open up the dangerous possibility of a two tier society forming as
those who choose not to get the vaccine will be disadvantaged for months to come. Making the point during a
Westminster Hall debate on the issue, Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson noted that those displaying vaccine
hesitancy or not coming forward for their jabs were disproportionately from those groups already the most
marginalised in society. Therefore an unintended consequence of vaccine passports could be the further maligning of
those who most need to feel included.
Other News
• 25th March: Under the latest package of COVID-19 legislation, approved by MPs on Thursday, it will be
illegal until 30 June for individuals in the UK to take a holiday overseas. This policy is subject to change as an
internal UK Government review of international travel continues, which will decide if Britons will be
permitted to travel abroad on holiday from 17 May.
• 23rd March: Data released by the ONS on Tuesday showed unemployment had fallen in January to 5% from
5.1% in the three months prior. The fall is the first in unemployment since the pandemic began.
• 20th March: On Saturday, the Government announced an additional £47.6 million in funding for the National
Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre. The funding will help the centre expand its capabilities thus
allowing the UK to respond to pandemics at a faster rate.
Contact matt.arnold@heartoflondonbid.co.uk should you have any queries.
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