MP urges Government to publish guidance for hospitality industry to stop Lakes businesses from being kept in the dark

On the floor of the House of Commons last night, local MP Tim Farron pushed ministers to publish the guidance for how hospitality businesses in the Lake District and across the country will reopen next month.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Tim argued that many employers and workers are living in "considerable anxiety" every day, "having been robbed of even the small amount of certainty that a road map would provide".

Tim said: "There is still no sign of the Government guidance, which it was promised would arrive last Friday, on the reopening of some of the tourism and hospitality industry.

"There is still no clarity on which parts of the hospitality industry will be able to open from 4 July in England or what the timetable for any gradual reopening might be. We are now just 19 days away from 4 July, and the tourism industry is still completely in the dark.

In response, minister Jo Churchill said that the Government is "looking at the unprecedented impact that covid-19 is having on the tourist industry".

Speaking afterwards Tim said: "It's just not good enough.

"Businesses need the maximum time to prepare to re-open safely in just over two weeks time and yet the Government are still twiddling their thumbs.

"We need this guidance now."