Mark Drakeford was speaking at the Welsh Government’s daily coronavirus press conferenceDealing with the UK government on plans to lift quarantine measures for travellers from abroad has been “utterly shambolic”, Wales’ first minister has said.
People arriving in England from more than 50 countries will not need to quarantine from 10 July. Mark Drakeford said he wants to allow the UK scheme to operate in Wales.
But he said it had been “impossible” to get a “sensible answer” on how UK ministers intended to make the changes.
Although foreign affairs is not devolved, the implementation of the changes under public health legislation means it needs to be signed off by the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“Dealing with the UK government, over the last few days, has been an utterly shambolic experience,” Mr Drakeford said, in some of the strongest comments the first minister has made about his political rivals in Westminster during the pandemic.
“If ever there was an example of making an announcement first and then trying to work out what you meant by it, that is what we have seen since,” the first minister said.
“Day after day we have attempted to get a sensible answer from the UK government of how they intend to make these changes – which countries they intend to extend the new arrangements to, and I just have to say it’s been an impossible experience to follow”
Earlier Grant Shapps, transport secretary, said he had “held off” from his announcement in the hope that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would reach a decision at the same time as England.
He said there was “still an opportunity” for them to co-ordinate ahead of the changes coming into effect on 10 July.
But a Scottish minister said he was given 30 minutes to make a decision about potential air bridges on Wednesday, and that it was “disappointing” the four nations had not finalised plans together.
The first minister said he does not expect the Welsh Government to disagree with any of the more than 50 countries.
“But the law requires that we ask our chief medical officer to take an independent assessment of the list and if he were to come to any other conclusion then we will pursue his views, first of all with the UK government and then in terms of what we would do here in Wales,” he added.
Source: bbc.com
