MPs call for PM to lift hospitality restrictions by Easter

Some 63 Conservative MPs have signed a letter to Boris Johnson calling for the lifting of restrictions for hospitality by Easter.

The ‘Covid Recovery Group’ has called for no legislative restrictions following the vaccination of the top nine vulnerable groups by the end of April.

The letter said: “Given the current pace of the vaccine rollout, by Easter we will have protected over two-thirds of risk groups 5-9. We would therefore ask you to ensure that pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can open for Easter in a way which enables them to be Covid-secure but also to operate in a commercially viable manner.”

It added: “All restrictions remaining after 8 March should be proportionate to the ever-increasing number of people we have protected.”

News sources over the weekend speculated that the government was considering allowing hospitality venues to go back to al fresco measures and be allowed to serve food and drinks outdoors by early spring if Covid infection rates continue to fall.

The Government has not yet published its lockdown exit strategy, but the Prime Minister has said he will announce the finer details for the “gradual and phased” easing of lockdown in the week beginning 22nd February.