Boris strongly urged by Minister to extend ban on foreign holidays

The Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is calling on the Prime Minister to extend the ban on international travel.

Drakeford said starting foreign holidays fills him with “horror” amid concerns new variants could enter the UK as travelling abroad is to possibly return from 17 May.

He further said that the second wave was “significantly driven” by people having holidays then returning back to Wales.

Drakeford told The i Paper, “The idea that we will have international travel back as it was before in the middle of May fills me with horror, really.

“I just think there is such a risk that it will lead to the reimportation of the virus just as we’ve all worked so hard to get it under control.”

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned there cannot be any “cast iron guarantee” holidays will resume from 17 May, and is urging people to wait until 12 April before making any plans.

Shapps told Times Radio, “I’m working on what’s called the global travel taskforce, which will report on the 12 April and that will set out the route to unlock with regard to international travel.

“What we’ve already said is the unlock for international travel won’t happen until 17 May, at the earliest.

“It’s step three of the four part unlock, which means that we can’t guarantee it will be the May 17, because that depends on the trajectory of the virus.

“So if you’re thinking of booking, I would say it makes sense to see how the unlock proceeds. I’m hopeful, but as with everything to do with this virus, you can’t say for certain.

“There are a lot of issues that we need to work around. But I am working with international partners, both governments and organisations, to try to make it happen. We can’t provide cast iron guarantees on that.”