UK Quarantine Rule Exists Only In The Minds Of Ministers

The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, feels that the British government’s approach to the coronavirus crisis and tourism is “unjust”. Well, he should try living in Britain (or, better still, running it). Most of what the government does about anything is unjust. It’s one of the reasons we’re in such a mess right across the board.

- Sean O'Grady

In any case, Sanchez is quite right. There are parts of Spain with a high and rising infection rate that are cause for alarm, being Catalonia and Aragon; but there are the many other parts, such as the Mediterranean and Atlantic islands far away, or say Asturias, where the rates are far lower than the UK. Is it beyond the wit of our border police and the insurance industry to be able to distinguish between holiday destinations? Where has our Great British common sense gone when we need it?

As it happens, in reality the British quarantine regime exists only in the minds of ministers. You may recall that, for a few weeks recently, just to be seen to be “doing something”, Priti Patel slapped a blanket 14-day quarantine requirement on anyone coming into Britain from abroad.