Matt Hancock has denied claims the government has sowed confusion over whether people can expect a summer holiday in 2021.
The health secretary – who has already booked his own break in Cornwall – said on Thursday that it was too still early to say if people could get away, urging the public to be “patient”.
Last month Mr Hancock predicted a “great British summer” and talked about his own plan to visit Cornwall. But on Wednesday transport secretary Grant Shapps warned: “People shouldn’t be booking holidays right now, not domestically or internationally.”
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether he agreed with Mr Shapps, the health secretary said: “I’m saying exactly the same as every other minister is saying, which is there is uncertainty, and that means we cannot make categorical assurances.”
Denying any inconsistency, Mr Hancock added: “I know that people are yearning to have a direct answer, because people look forward to summer holidays so much. But unfortunately there is that uncertainty. We are going to have to be patient.”
Labour has urged the government to stop sending out “mixed messages” on summer holidays, while Sir Charles Walker – vice chair of the 1922 committee of Tory backbenchers – accused the government of “sowing confusion”among a “stressed-out population”.
Asked about his previous claims about the “great British summer” ahead, Mr Hancock told LBC: “I absolutely hope for a great British summer and I’m working incredibly hard to try to make sure that can happen.”
He again claimed he fellow ministers “have all been saying exactly the same thing”. The minister also said he still “hoped” to get away to Cornwall. “I booked a place months ago, and of course I hope to [go], but there is this uncertainty.”
“Even before we get to whether we’re going on holiday or where we’re going on holiday, how soon we can see and hug our loved ones is important,” Mr Hancock said.
Boris Johnson, speaking at the latest Downing Street press conference, said on Wednesday: “I am afraid it is just too early for people to be certain about what we’ll be able to do this summer.”
Earlier in February, however, Mr Johnson had said he was “optimistic” about the prospect of summer holidays, so long as the vaccination programme goes well.
Noel Josephides, chairman of tour operator Sunvil, said MrJohnson and his ministers have “never been completely accurate” during the pandemic. “We don’t believe that once people are vaccinated they are going to worry about travelling abroad,” he told LBC.
“And it’s on that basis that we are going ahead [with our plans]. And if, in fact, the government waits until everybody is vaccinated then by that time there won’t be a travel industry.”
