Alok Sharma Mp

[Gromit]

The Conservative MP for Reading West has taken 30 air flights in the last 7 months, many to red list countries. He used an exemption for Ministers to avoid quarantining each time.

He is the Government Minister in charge of COP26, the Climate Change Conference.

A clear case of one rule for them, and different rules for the rest of us ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58112621

[youngmafbog]

Of course it is one rule for the rich and politicians and one for teh rest of us.

I strongly suspect a lot of this is part of their plan to stop the plebs travelling as part of the Green agenda the Tory Party have become. We shall see more after the next meeting of the green cabal.

[ToraToraTora]

government business me old china, nothing to see here.

[Gromit]

// UK citizens are advised not to travel to red list countries "except in the most extreme of circumstances" - but if they do, they are required by law to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days at a cost of £2,285 for one adult.

Breaking this law can result in a fine of up to £10,000. //

However, Government ministers - are exempt from this rule.

[youngmafbog]

It clearly cant be as dangerous as they make out can it?

[ToraToraTora]

of course they are exempt, I thought this was a gulliver question at first!

[youngmafbog]

Why is it 'of course they are except'? Does the virus know they are a Politician and not infect them?

If Government business needs to be conducted with these countries then use zoom or whatever.

[dannyk13]

Gromit, the business of the government doesn't cease because of Covid.

[youngmafbog]

And neither do International companies Danny.

If its urgent use zoom.

[ToraToraTora]

How many of those 30 air flights were for private reasons? Government officials must have exemptions to do their jobs. No different to Traffic cops having an exemption from speeding when doing theirs.

[Gromit]

Flying to 30 countries when you are promoting reducing greenhouse gas emissions looks like an own goal.

[youngmafbog]

TTT, if people have to travel for work they have to quarantine. So he should, or not go.

It's not as if the agenda is crucial is it? Or are you now a member of the Green Party?

[Gromit]

Not sure the UK Government is that committed to Climate Change. They are more interested in the kudos of hosting a United Nations event.

The UK sponsors of the event also happen to be some of our biggest greenhouse gas polluters - National Grid plc, Scottish Power and SSE plc.

[Canary42]

Quite right. The Tory Toffs have got to keep the Plebs in their place.

[New Judge]

//...government business me old china, nothing to see here.//

I disagree, Tora, on two counts.

Firstly, it is said that it was "crucial" that Mr Sharma made these trips ahead of the "COP26" meeting later this year. Firstly that's debateable. The entire world (we are told) is taking the most stringent measures to combat the pandemic. Many people in all walks of life have had urgent need to travel but have been prevented from doing so. As a result they've had to adapt. There is no reason why Mr Sharma and the people he met could not have set an example by adapting similarly. As well as that, the photo accompanying the BBC's report suggests that not all the activities Mr Sharma undertook whilst away were of a "crucial" nature. I don't know too much vital government business that has to be conducted whilst wearing beads and a garland of flowers.

Secondly, all this has been done in the name of combatting climate change. One of the biggest contributors to that problem (again, so we are told) is aviation. Yet Mr Sharma clocked up the thick end of a quarter of a million air miles on his jaunts. In the autumn, when the jamboree kicks off in Glasgow, the attenders there together with their various lackies and hangers-on will no doubt add many fold to that total.

There is an article in the Press today suggesting that the current restrictions on travel are the beginning of a softening up process before restrictions on private air travel are mandated. Those who are doubtful of it being an "us and them" situation at present need only wait for that idea to gather ground - probably in Glasgow in October.

[jno]

TTT makes a fairish point: a certain amount of glad-handing, bead-wearing, smiling and visiting Bolivian witches' markets is indeed government business, the sort of thing connected with soft power. That he might have enjoyed it is neither here nor there.

However, the sheer number of flights he's taken in pursuit of tackling climate change just makes him look as if the government isn't really bothered - which I imagine is the case, but not the message they'd be wanting to send out.

[Khandro]

Sharma is under pressure on two counts: first, that as the cabinet minister responsible for the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Scotland this November, his example of plane-hopping between nations doesn’t quite gel with the government’s message of reducing carbon emissions. But it’s the Covid element that really sticks. Thanks to loopholes in the legislation, ministers are exempt from quarantine measures when they arrive back in the UK. This includes returning from red list countries (Sharma is estimated to have visited six). While your average traveller has been forking out £1,750 for a government-sanctioned hotel quarantine — going up to £2,285 next month — Sharma returned a free man and reportedly met up with Prince Charles just one day after returning from red-listed Bangladesh.

Why is that ? Go figure.

[Canary42]

https://ibb.co/vd2ShLv

[jno]

well, Boris has once again come into contact with Covid and once again isn't going to isolate, so it's standard government hard man procedure.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/06/boris-johnson-will-not-isolate-after-staffer-tests-positive-for-covid

[maggiebee]

Damned savage - should be soundly thrashed. Oh wait, he's a Tory!!