Travel rules farce after France quarantine kept over Beta variant

Travel rules farce after France quarantine kept over Beta variant
Travel rules farce after France quarantine kept over Beta variant

The UK's travel rules descended into farce today as ministers dismissed Dominic Raab's claim that France was hit with 'amber plus' quarantine rules because of Covid cases on Reunion island 6,000 miles away.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the Foreign Secretary was wrong to make the connection yesterday, amid a furious reaction from Paris.

The decision two weeks ago led to thousands of fully-vaccinated holidaymakers having to self-isolate for ten days on their return.

The diplomatic spat escalate over recent days after France was missed out of a UK quarantine exemption for travellers who have been double-jabbed in the EU.    

Meanwhile, Italy is reportedly not reciprocating the get-out granted by Britain, meaning vaccinated holidaymakers will still need to isolate on arrival.

There are claims that EU leaders are resisting easing rules for Britons partly out of 'frustration' with the standoff over Brexit. 

The UK's travel rules descended into farce today as ministers dismissed Dominic Raab's claim that France was hit with 'amber plus' quarantine rules because of Covid cases on Reunion island 6,000 miles away

The UK's travel rules descended into farce today as ministers dismissed Dominic Raab's claim that France was hit with 'amber plus' quarantine rules because of Covid cases on Reunion island 6,000 miles away

A senior government source also slapped down Mr Raab (pictured yesterday), insisting that he had been wrong

A senior government source also slapped down Mr Raab (pictured yesterday), insisting that he had been wrong

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Shapps said the decision had been down to 'overall concern' about France, not the situation on Reunion

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Shapps said the decision had been down to 'overall concern' about France, not the situation on Reunion

French Europe minister Clement Beaune yesterday branded the UK's stance towards his country 'excessive and frankly baffling'.

'If I understood correctly, this is being done in the name of the famous Beta variant, the South African variant, which represents less than 5 per cent of cases in France, most of which are in our overseas territories that are not affected by the same flows of people towards the UK,' he said.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Shapps said the decision had been down to 'overall concern' about France, not the situation on Reunion.   

A senior government source also slapped down Mr Raab, insisting that he had been wrong.

The source said: 'Ministers took this decision based on data on the

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