Wales cannot become ‘escape’ for people in England as firebreak ends and lockdown comes in, first minister warns

Wales cannot become an “escape” for people in England as the country’s 17-day  lockdown is relaxed and Boris Johnson’s month-long restrictions across the border come into force, the Welsh first minister has said.

Sticking to the 9 November timetable for removing strict measures, Mark Drakeford said the “unexpected” decision to introduce a lockdown across England on Thursday would not interrupt plans to reopen large sectors of the economy in Wales.

While releasing travel restrictions inside the country next week, he added that people in England will not be able to make journeys into Wales without a reasonable excuse throughout the November shutdown.

The “firebreak” lockdown in Wales, which included the closure of non-essential businesses and a ban on household mixing, was introduced over a fortnight ago in response to rising transmission rates of Covid.

“I want to be absolutely clear that our firebreak will end as planned and as promised on Monday 9 November,” Mr Drakeford told a press conference on Monday.

He added the Welsh government had to consider the ramifications of the lockdown in England, which comes into force on Thursday, as 150,000 people typically criss-cross the border on a normal day.

“The English lockdown inevitably has an impact on people who live in Wales, but work in England,” he said. “We will be coming out of our firebreak just as England begins its month-long lockdown.

“It is really important as we open up, Wales doesn’t become an escape for people seeking to circumvent the new, tighter restrictions imposed by the prime minister. We want to keep Wales safe, and we want to keep the United Kingdom safe as well.”

On travelling, he said: “There will be no travel restrictions inside Wales, but during the month-long lockdown in England, travel will not be permitted outside Wales without a reasonable excuse.”

"People who live in Wales but work in England will have a reasonable reason for travelling to work, and people who live in England and work in Wales clearly have a reasonable excuse for coming across the border to work here," Mr Drakeford added.

"But it will be a restricted list of essential purposes, rather than the normal to-ing and fro-ing across the border that you would have seen in less fraught and difficult times."

The first minister said when restrictions are eased next week in Wales, two households will be able to join together to join together and form a “bubble” and meet indoors while pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to reopen. The requirement to work from home will remain.

He went on: “Beyond November 9, there will be new arrangements to meet indoors in other settings, such as pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. But because all these places will now be closed in England, we are having to think further about how the hospitality sector in Wales can operate in these new circumstances. That consideration will continue into this afternoon.

“In relation to organised activity, up to 15 people will be able to meet together to take part in an indoors activity and up to 30 outdoors activities.”