Government condemned for ‘slap in the face’ rule allowing executives to escape self-isolation if work benefits UK economy

Ministers have been accused of creating “one rule for the rich and another for the rest” after an announcement that overseas business leaders will be allowed to escape quarantine on arrival in England if their work is of significant economic benefit.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner described the move as an “offensive slap in the face” to the lowest paid workers, who she said had got the country through the coronavirus crisis.

The row erupted against a backdrop of a surge in cases of the Delta variant of Covid-19 first identified in India.

On Monday, the UK reported the highest daily rise in cases since 30 January.

The government is already under fire over exemptions that would allow officials from European football’s ruling body, Uefa, to attend games at Wembley without following quarantine rules. Former Conservative cabinet minister Liam Fox said the move risked making Britons second-class citizens “in our own country”.

Under the new rules, some senior executives will be allowed to leave self-isolation if they are undertaking business activities “likely to be of significant economic benefit to the UK”.

Only those who receive written permission from the government before they arrive in England will be allowed to use the exemption.

To qualify they will have to show the purpose of their visit is to establish a new business in the UK or make a financial investment in a UK-based firm.

“Significant” economic benefit is defined as a greater than 50 per cent chance of creating or preserving at least 500 UK-based jobs, or creating a new UK business within two years.

But executives will not qualify if their activities can be carried out remotely or by another person.

The mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the change was the “wrong move at the wrong time. It can’t be one rule for the rich and another for the rest.”

Ms Rayner said: “Sorry for the unparliamentary language but this just takes the pi**. It is the lowest paid working people who have got our country through this crisis, risking their lives on the frontline. This is an offensive slap in the face for them and shows this government’s true colours.”

Even Conservatives were critical. Nick Timothy, Theresa May’s former adviser, said: “It’s time to get back to normal for everyone, not just elites.”

The Institute of Directors chief economist, Tej Parikh, warned the move looked “arbitrary” and could overlook other important businesses. “Medium-sized enterprises will be the powerhouses of our economic recovery,” he said, “so initiatives that effectively lower quarantine requirements for executives in large businesses seem arbitrary.”

Downing Street defended the latest exemption for business chiefs, insisting they would be used only in “exceptional” circumstances .

The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Protecting public health is our number one priority and that’s why those exemptions will only apply in truly exceptional circumstances.

“Many other countries have introduced similar exemptions and it’s important the UK public don’t lose out on prospective major investments and new jobs as a result of that.”

He added: “This is about making limited exemptions when people can prove they are looking to make significant major investments that would benefit the UK public and provide more jobs.”

Airlines are among those who have been pushing hard for restrictions to ease. Experts warn that sales of business-class and first-class seats, which generate the largest profits, have fallen sharply since the pandemic and the move to remote working.

Under the new rules, those granted the exemption would be forced to self-isolate when not involved in work activities, according to the guidelines.

Before they travel to England they will also have to take a Covid-19 test, book tests to be taken after they arrive and complete a passenger locator form.