England’s ‘Freedom Day’ from Covid rules is ‘foolish’ and ‘cruel’, says Plaid MS

England’s so called ‘Freedom Day’ from Covid regulations is “foolish” and “cruel”, according to a Plaid Cymru Senedd member.

Delyth Jewell, who represents South Wales East, took at the aim of the decision of the UK Government to scrap almost all restrictions in England on 19 July.

She said vulnerable people would be “compromised” by the move, adding that one person’s “freedom” should not be “endangering others’ safety”.

The changes in England include scrapping the legal requirement to wear face masks and ditching social distancing rules.

Delyth Jewell said: “The concept of England’s ‘Freedom Day’ isn’t just foolish: it’s cruel.

“Vulnerable people, be it those with disabilities or whose immune systems are compromised, will feel *less* free to go about their lives. One person’s ‘freedom’ shouldn’t involve endangering others’ safety.”

‘Move as one’ 

Robert Jenrick, Boris Johnson’s Communities Secretary, told the Andrew Marr Show that he hoped the UK should “move as one” out of Covid-19 restrictions.

However, UK Government’s new Health Minister, Sajid Javid, recently struck a different tone, saying that the differences in Covid policy between Wales and England were “understandable” and “will continue” in the future.

Wales will confirm on Friday next week if any further restrictions will be eased.

According to the Welsh Government, ministers and officials would evaluate data ahead of the next review on 15 July.

The First Minister Mark Drakeford has previously said that some restrictions would likely remain into the autumn and perhaps beyond.

Wales’ Health Minister, Eluned Morgan has said that Wales will “follow the data rather than the politics” at a recent press conference.

She added that it was “very clear that we are still in a very difficult situation because case numbers are increasing exponentially in Wales”.

“Boris Johnson will do what is right for England and we will do what is right for Wales,” she said. She added that “time and time again deadlines have been set in England and missed”.

“In an ideal world we would like to move together,” she added. “But here we’ve been following the data and will continue to do that.”