Tabloid ‘fury’ as Wales opens hairdressers a month before England

The Daily Mail has reported “fury” in England at the pace of lockdown lifting there as Wales reopened hairdressers a month ahead of their near neighbours.

According to the newspaper, which has long campaigned for a lighter lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was facing “more fury” from MPs to ease lockdown quicker after Wales moved to ‘stay local’ restrictions.

“Wales reopens hairdressers TODAY almost a MONTH before they are due to return to cutting hair in England as Boris Johnson faces more fury over the pace of lockdown lifting,” the newspaper reported.

The Sun too bemoaned the delay in England, saying Wales was a “cut above the rest” and complaining that: “HAIR salons and barbers in Wales are open from TODAY as coronavirus restrictions are eased – but people in England will have to wait another four weeks for a chop.”

It comes after the Express newspaper asked why Wales is reopening after the second wave of lockdown while England “is so far behind”.

“While lockdown measures will start to ease in Wales, further months of lockdown restrictions await people in England,” the newspaper said.

“[The] easing of restrictions on social gatherings and the reopening of some hospitality businesses, such as hairdressers, is scheduled to start much earlier in Wales than it is in England.

“Boris Johnson has previously been accused of being too slow to lift the draconian rules England is currently being subjected to.”

The lockdown regulations in Wales have changed from ‘stay at home’ to ‘stay local’ – but the ‘stay at home’ rule is not due to end in England for another two weeks.

Hairdressers were allowed to reopen on Monday in Wales but are not due to open their doors until 12 April in England, if conditions allow.

Daily Mail contributors in the comment section were unimpressed by the disparity.

“Boris clearly does not care about his own barnet… why would he care about ours?” one asked.

“Hope we are baning the Welsh from coming across into England!” another said.

Others however expressed surprise that the Daily Mail had admitted that Wales had reopened before England.

“Wow DM a positive about living in Wales, suprised you couldn’t dig and create a false story out of this that Drakeford banned people from England having a haircut,” another said.

“Truth is now its Boris’s rules stopping you doing normal things, not Drakeford and Welsh government.”

“Can we not capture all this fury and use it to power the nation?” asked another.