UK government 'playing hokey cokey with travel' says Strutton

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Tight travel restrictions remain in place in the UK meaning there are very few reasons Britons are allowed to travel abroad. A cross-party group of MPs have called for changes at airports before travel fully reopens.

The group proposed the Government update e-passport gates at airports to help travel get up and running again.

The travel industry has been greatly affected during the coronavirus pandemic as restrictions have been put in place.

Finding a way to safely travel could help relax rules and get Britons travelling again.

The proposed changes to e-passport gates could ensure only those with a negative test result travel.

The all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus discussed how the upgrade to passport gates could help travel.

The group explained it could reduce queues and crowding at airports when holidaymakers return from abroad.

This would be aided by digital Covid passports for international travel which would include test results.

They explained doing this could cut back on the need for paper documents when at airports.

Details were shared in a report release last night where the politicians made a number of suggestions.

Vice-chairman of the group Caroline Lucas addressed some of the current problems faced by the travel industry.

She said: “The rapid growth of the Delta variant has shown how we must be vigilant against the risks posed by international travel.

“Yet despite repeated warnings, ministers are still failing to address overcrowding at airports or fake test certificates that are allowing Covid cases to slip through the cracks.”

She continued to say new e-gates and digital test results could help reduce the risk of transmission.

If this was reduced, it would become safer for Britons to travel and there is a possibility restrictions could ease.

“Upgrading e-gates and digitising test results would reduce the risk of transmission in airports and ensure we are no longer relying solely on border force officials to spot fraudulent documents,” Ms Lucas continued.

“The Government must learn from its mistakes and ensure its border policy is watertight.”

More to follow…

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