“Government found wanting” on Covid secure borders - Oldham MP

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon

Shadow Transport Secretary and Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has slammed the Government in the House of Commons for prioritising ‘propaganda’ over public health when it came to keeping our borders Covid secure.

During his closing speech for Tuesday’s opposition day debate on Covid secure borders, the Labour frontbencher said: “The Government have been found wanting.

"Not for the first time - we have heard it before where the words do not match the reality.

"The situation in which we find ourselves was entirely avoidable, at the same time as Pakistan and Bangladesh were added to the red list India should have been added.

“We all know the real reason and why the Government will not release the data: that data would show that India absolutely should have been put on the red list at the same time as Pakistan and Bangladesh were.

“That is what the data would show, but that did not sit comfortably with the Prime Minister, who was planning his trade visit.

"That was the real reason why the change was delayed.

"That one trade visit - that photocall and bit of publicity - was worth more than jobs in hospitality, in our wedding industry and in tourism and aviation.

“The photo shoot, the propaganda - it just wasn’t worth it.

"The Government say that it has to be about following the data and we absolutely believe that - we have been saying that from day one - but when tested, I am afraid the Government just do not pass the test.”

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