Oldham MP calls on Supermarkets to enforce face coverings

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has written to all major supermarkets with stores in the constituency urging them to do more to increase compliance with wearing face coverings. From his own experience in shops around the constituency, comments and tweets from constituents on social media, and his casework inbox Jim knows that there are still lots of people shopping without masks.

In the letter Jim encourages supermarkets in Oldham West and Royton to ‘take immediate action to ensure there are adequate staffing levels to promote effective social distancing and public health measures with dedicated and trained staff able to enforce the wearing of face coverings for those required to wear one.’ And states that ‘Where there is no exemption in place entry should be denied.’

Commenting afterwards, Jim said “I know just how difficult it can be for staff in supermarkets and shops to enforce the laws that I help set in Parliament. As a Labour and Co-op MP I’ve been fighting for greater protections for our shopworkers in these exact situations and sought tougher sentences for those who abuse and assault frontline retail staff.” “I understand why staff don’t want to get in a confrontation with customers, so that’s why I’ve written to supermarket bosses to ask them to do more. To increase the number and size of signs that are in prominent places as you enter a store, enforcing the need to wear a face covering and to make sure there are enough staff with adequate training to be able to enforce the wearing of face coverings.”

“I’ve mentioned face coverings a lot over the course of the last week, but that’s because it’s a simple tool which we can use to defeat the virus. It’s something that for the most part we can all do that helps protect ourselves and protect each other. As it becomes more normalised and more shops are denying those without exemption from entry, more and more people will follow the rules.”

“I know compliance is getting better because I’ve seen the numbers increase, but even when you take into account the people who are exempt from wearing a face covering for medical grounds there are still far too many people not following the rules.”

“So, I ask of supermarket bosses and all of us, let’s come together to protect lives and advance our common endeavour to beat this virus.”

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