Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe got in a heated row with ITV host Piers Morgan after she said people would have to get back to work on public transport even if they “can’t keep the two metres apart”.
The Brexit Party politician appeared on Good Morning Britain to insist the economy had “got to be kept moving” – much to the annoyance of Mr Morgan, who said the two-metre rule should be “enforced” on public transport to keep people safe.
“The problem with packed tube trains is you just can’t keep the two metres apart,” said Ms Widdecombe. “You won’t be able to enforce two metres on public transport which is very heavily used.”
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She later added: “If we don’t get the economy going there are going to be huge long-term health problems as well as economic problems. It’s got to be kept moving.”
Their exchange turned acrimonious when the host tried to ask another question. Ms Widdecombe said: “No, Piers, stop interrupting when I’m trying to make a point, please.”
Mr Morgan replied: “I’m not talking … I’m talking now, but I wasn’t when you were shouting at me.”
Ms Widdecombe’s remarks were heavily criticised by people on social media. One Twitter user said it showed she “doesn’t care about the consequences for those who are being forced to use it to go back to work. Economy before health every time.”
Also appearing on Good Morning Britain, the former chief scientific adviser Sir David King argued the two-metre distance should be made a strict requirement on public transport.
“What I see is a dangerously, dangerously incoherent policy,” he said. “If we’re told kept that two metres distance apart … and then telling people in London and other cities, ‘Get on public transport, get to work’ is completely incoherent.
“Let me say, if we’re going to open up public transport and say ‘please use it’ we have to set the two metres distance as a requirement.”
There was a 10 per cent increase in London Underground journeys early on Thursday compared with the same period last week, Transport for London (TfL) said.
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Demand between 5am to 6am was up compared with last week, but down from Wednesday.
New research by academics at the University of Sussex has warned that the return of commuters to work could trigger a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus.
The study found that the sharp drop in travel was the main reason the virus was brought under control and warned more transport use carries a large risk of a second spike.
