Good Morning Britain guest presenter Richard Madeley has said he has “lost faith” in the UK government’s traffic light system for international travel.
The telly host slammed the system ahead of an update, where the green, amber and red list countries are thought to be changing.
It’s reported green-list country Portugal could be taken off amid a rise in cases, while Malta could be added on.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the changes later on Thursday, amid concern from holidaymakers and those who have booked international trips that they may have to cancel or return early to avoid quarantining.
Ahead of any update, Richard confessed he had “lost complete faith” in the government’s system and din’t see the point in it.
(Image: ITV)
With countries constantly moving around the three lists, Richard slammed one minister’s comments about advising people not to go abroad despite Brits legally being allowed to.
Dr Hilary Jones offered advice on why the lists could change often, as well as the possible reason for the traffic light system.
He said: “It’s a situation that’s changing very quickly. It may well be that Portugal comes off the green list and Malta goes on.”
But Richard was having none of it, saying: “But don’t you find that you can no longer trust the green, orange and red list, because if Portugal is to come off and it’s one of the first countries to go on and everyone was very confident.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“I know people who have booked a holiday to Portugal, they’re gonna possibly lose their money. How long until Malta if it goes on the list today comes off again? I’ve lost complete faith in it.”
Hilary replied: “It’s a very quickly changing situation, that’s the problem. So case rates can change overnight. Hospitalisation and death rates and vaccination rates, they do know what is going on.
“But everything can change very quickly and it’s not just the Brits who are going to these countries, it’s people from other countries and they’re bringing their own infections with them, depending on what precautions are being taken there.
(Image: ITV)
“So it’s rapidly changing and that’s why it’s always a risk to go at the moment.”
Richard went on: “There’s also this, I can’t get my head around this. If you’ve got a green, orange and red system… I heard this on the radio coming in this morning.
“A junior minister was saying yes, there will be countries that will remain and be added to the green list we think but we’d still rather you didn’t go.
“Well then what’s the point in having a system? What’s the point in having a green traffic light if you can’t go?”
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Hilary advised: “I suppose it’s what’s legal to do and what isn’t legal to do. There’s a big difference there. I think that’s the only reason for having any kind of rules and regulations.
“People are concerned, ‘they can go at the moment but we advise against it’ so they’re giving people some type of freedom but it’s not helping everyone else.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/richard-madeley-blasts-covid-travel-24239523