My mate, who is quite up in the Old Bill, says that they are working together will the local authorities with a view to everything opening back up on Dec 2nd.
The only question is what tier system each area will go into. He seems to think that the way it`s going, Liverpool will go into Tier 2, with a slight relaxation over the immediate Christmas period ( as they don`t believe people will still stick to the current rules on the likes of Christmas Day )
If this happens expect righteous indignation from at least one member on here lol
One of my mates who holds a reasonable position within goverment (albiet local) has mentioned that the contingency plans they have in place are for the 2nd to come, and an announcement to be made that certain businesses will be allowed to open on the 14th depending on infections, (2 more weeks of 'lockdown' without too much upset as people could see an end). Then the tier system to be in place. After the new year depending on the circumstances if infections rise then back to lockdowns until the end of March.
Thats what the current thinking had been 2 weeks ago when we were talking, he'd had been in meetings that day and the higher ups were adamant that senior goverment didn't want to be seen as the people who cancelled Xmas, the Tory goverment see this as political suicide. Give the proletariat & plebs what they want, if it goes tits up it wasn't there fault and if the majority of the populance got to see their family and have a blow out they will be more likely to accept restrictions in the New Year.
At this stage to open up pubs, resteraunt, leisure etc... you'd need around at least two weeks notice to get orders increase stock, clean, brew beer at the level required to placate the xmas market, bring staff back and even then there would be some resistance from some pubs themselves to open when there would be a likelihood of closing again within 3 weeks. Although the money to be made at Xmas/New year is essential to these businesses, the covid restrictions in place might not make them viable to open and make the profits they would normally expect at this time of year.
Although at this moment with the potential vaccines in the New Year being mooted and Cummings and Cain being hoofed to touch, the landscape around this may change again, 2 weeks is a century in politics in 2020.
