Priti Patel claims she ‘wanted to close UK borders in MARCH’ at start of Covid-19 pandemic in leaked recording of Zoom meeting with Conservative Party supporters
- Priti Patel said in leaked recording the UK should have closed borders earlier
- She said she was ‘advocate of closing them last March’ when pandemic started
- Remarks will put pressure on Boris Johnson over why tough action was not taken
Priti Patel has claimed in a leaked recording that she pushed for the UK to close its borders at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
Ms Patel said on the question of whether British borders should have been closed earlier ‘the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March’.
The remarks, made during a Zoom call last night with the Conservative Friends of India group and first published by the Guido Fawkes website, will pile the pressure on Boris Johnson.
The Prime Minister has faced sustained criticism from Labour over why the Government failed to roll-out tougher border restrictions earlier in the Covid-19 crisis.
A requirement for all arrivals in the UK to have a negative test came into force on Monday this week but critics have been calling for months for the Government to introduce the measure.
Priti Patel said in a leaked recording that she had pushed for the UK’s borders to be closed at the start of the pandemic in March last year
Ms Patel told the meeting of Tory supporters: ‘On ‘should we have closed our borders earlier’ the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March”
A Home Office Spokesman said: ‘We have strong measures at the border in place which are vital as we roll out the vaccine.’
The comments are likely to ignite a political firestorm, with Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party immediately pouncing on them as he tweeted: ‘What a pity Boris Johnson didn’t listen to Priti Patel.’
Earlier this month Labour had accused the Government of ‘leaving a substantial gap in the nation’s defences against this terrible virus’ by failing to introduce tougher border measures.
Responding to the leaked recording, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said: ‘This is a shocking admission from the Home Secretary about the Government’s failure to secure the UK’s borders against Covid.
‘Priti Patel’s admission, coupled with the complete lack of strategy for testing of travellers, means that the Government has left our doors open to the virus and worrying mutations.
‘Ministers now need to – urgently – review and overhaul border policy, whilst taking responsibility for the huge damage their incompetence has done to our national safety and security.’
Mr Johnson announced at a Downing Street press conference on Friday January 15 that the Government was suspending all travel corridors and introduce a negative test requirement from 4am on Monday this week.
He said: ‘To protect us against the risk of as yet unidentified new strains, we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday.
‘Following conversations with the devolved administrations, we will act together so that this applies across the whole of UK
Arrivals in the UK now have to have a negative test for coronavirus before travelling – a requirement which came into force on Monday this week. Heathrow Airport is pictured.
‘This means that if you come to this country, you must have proof of a negative Covid test that you have taken in the 72 hours before leaving and you must have filled in your Passenger Locator Form, and your airline will ask for proof of both before you take off.
‘You may also be checked when you land and face substantial fines for refusing to comply
‘And, upon arrival, you must then quarantine for ten days – not leaving your home for any reason at all, or take another test on day 5 and wait for proof of another negative result. And we will be stepping up our enforcement – both at the border and in-country.’