BORDER FORCE
Matt Hancock reveals plan to stop 10k visitors arriving in UK each day with border rules set to be ‘strengthened’
BRITAIN'S border rules are set to be tightened further to protect the country against mutant coronavirus strains from abroad, Matt Hancock revealed today.
The Health Secretary said ministers want to take even more "stringent" action but refused to say when the new hotel quarantine system will come into force.
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He was repeatedly grilled over whether the Government has done enough to stop new variations of the virus from reaching the UK.
And he was pressed on whether it will now go further after Nicola Sturgeon announced a worldwide hotel quarantine policy for Scotland.
Mr Hancock said: "We are also looking to strengthen measures in particular for those countries that have the highest risk.
"We are looking at what we can do to strengthen the border measures even more. Right now we've removed all the ability to travel without quarantine at home."
But he refused to confirm a start date for England's hotel quarantine system, even when asked if it'll be up and running for the end of the month.
He said: "We'll set out more details of that when we're ready to, but you've seen we're perfectly prepared to take very tough action if needed.
"I absolutely think we should be doing everything that's necessary. Clearly we are always open to looking to see if there's more we can do."
It came as
- No 10 chided Nicola Sturgeon over Scotland's slow jabs rollout
- New data showed Covid cases have fallen in 98% of areas
- Mr Hancock admitted his love of the film 'Contagion' inspired the UK's pandemic response
The Health Secretary also brushed aside claims that ministers rejected SAGE advice to impose mandatory quarantine for all arrivals in Britain.
He said that is covered by the current rules, which have scrapped all travel corridors and require all travellers to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
But he added: "I am up for strengthening that further and we are looking at that.
"Further enforcement of that, of course, can always be introduced and strengthened."
But in signs of Cabinet confusion Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the UK can't just completely shut its borders like Australia.
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He told MPs: "People say 'why don't we just close down and then we'll be safe?'.
"But, of course, we wouldn't be safe, because we are an island nation, unlike Australia or something which is an entire continent.
"We need to get medicines in, we need to get food in, we need to get our raw materials in, sometimes we have to move people around, scientists and others.
"If we weren't doing these things then we simply wouldn't be combating this crisis."
He added: "The idea that the UK could completely button down its hatches and remain buttoned down for a year is mistaken.
"But also the evidence that that is the only thing that you need to do, or even the primary thing you need to do, is also pretty shaky."
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the delay to Quarantine Hotel was down to “big logistical and operational programmes” to get the policy in place.
She said: “My colleagues across government are working hard - these are big logistical and operational programmes that we are talking about.
“They are underway now and my colleagues in government will make the announcements around the date and when that will be rolled out in due course.
“We have to work with operational partners, whether it's hoteliers, whether it's tying into our existing systems around passengers coming in, passengers travelling and actually making those connections.
"There are logistical and operational considerations and factors that you want to take on board.
“Our teams across government, our officials and ministers are working on that right now.”
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Under Government plans arrivals from 30 high risk countries including South Africa and Brazil will have to quarantine in hotels near airports.
Ministers will discuss whether to expand that list of nations at a weekly meeting tomorrow
And yesterday Ms Sturgeon heaped pressure on No 10 to go further by announcing Scotland will apply the policy to people coming from everywhere.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said the action taken by Westminster "doesn't go far enough".
She said: "The firm view of the Scottish Government is that in order to minimise the risk of new strains coming into the country, managed quarantine must be much more comprehensive.
"So, I can confirm today that we intend to introduce a managed quarantine requirement for anyone who arrives directly into Scotland, regardless of which country they have come from.
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And she added: "We will continue to urge the UK Government to adopt a similar comprehensive approach.
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"However, if they don’t wish to do so we’ll ask them to work with us to reduce risk of people travelling to Scotland via airports in the UK."
Mr Hancock and Home Secretary Priti Patel are understood to be pushing within Cabinet for an equally hard line covering the whole of Britain.
Matt Hancock's love of Matt Damon film Contagion inspired Britain's covid vaccine rollout
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