Manchester: Sturgeon's restrictions 'insulting' says Lord

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Speaking to Express.co.uk Sacha Lord, Night Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester and founder of Parklife festival, slammed Nicola Sturgeon for her decision to ruthlessly ban leisure travel between Scotland and Manchester and Salford over fears of rising coronavirus infections. He expressed deep concerns over the devastating impact her “out of the blue” decision-making will have on the hospitality sector after a catastrophic year for the industry. Mr Lord went on to brand Ms Sturgeon as “good at putting parts of the country down” and echoed the sentiments of Mayor Andy Burnham who branded Ms Sturgeon a “hypocrite” for the brutal decision despite the SNP leader “spending her life complaining” that Westminster makes decisions on Scotland without her input.

Mr Lord said: “Why, if you have had two vaccinations and you have had the three-week pause after and you’ve got a walking holiday booked in the highlands next week… why can’t you go? Everything is safe!

“Again, it is just showing people in power are saying things and sadly I think a lot of it is to score political points sometimes, to create a lot of news around it.

“And sturgeon seems quite good at that doesn’t she! She seems quite good at putting parts of the UK down.”

Mr Lord went on to highlight: “As Andy Burnham said, what she did to Greater Manchester and Salford is what she spends all her life complaining about what Westminster do to her.”

“So it is very hypocritical isn’t it, she can do it to someone else but she doesn’t like it being done back to her.”

For an industry already on its knees, the nightlife advisor added how the decision is simply “insulting and infuriating” to business owners adding how “it is certainly not the way to lead”.

He also questioned why the First Minister did not “at least” contact Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham prior to making the decision “but none of that happened”.

Mr Lord’s concerns about the decision were made clear in a tweet on Tuesday, where he told followers just how damaging Ms Sturgeon’s travel ban to the North West has already been in the few days since her controversial decision.

UK hospitality industry in 'catastrophic' situation says expert

He said: “Over the last 72hrs, it is now clear how hard the Scottish travel ban to Manchester has impacted Hospitality.

“Cancellations are across the board in restaurants, hotels, Air B&B.

“One city centre hotel has seen “a circa 200 room cancellation”. So much for supporting staycations.”

Mr Lord’s comments come as his industry has faced countless setbacks in the past 18-months due to coronavirus restrictions of which Mr Lord says has been compounded by “a catalogue of errors” from the Government.

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Major setbacks in the past year have included the delay on the re-opening of indoor dining until May 17 which Mr Lord took the Government to court over in order to force them to prove the science behind the restrictions.

Mr Lord lost the case despite the Government failing to provide evidence for their decision.

But as a result of a second, separate ruling, Mr Lord along with Hugh Osmond, founder of Punch Taverns, triggered the scrapping of the bizarre clause which labelled Scotch Eggs as a substantial meal, which despite causing much amusement among the public in fact had a devastating impact on businesses and jobs.

The pair also forced the Government to scrap the unpopular 10pm curfew for venues which was also highly damaging to the hospitality industry.

Tough covid restrictions and rulings surrounding the sector has sent thousands of businesses to the slaughter by rendering them unable to operate under the restrictions, it is estimated 188,000 people have lost their jobs in the industry as a result of coronavirus.

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