Johnson Offers Cash for England Pubs Told to Close Due to Covid – Bloomberg
Article summary
Boris Johnson will promise cash grants to traditional English pubs forced to shut under new pandemic rules as he seeks to persuade critics in his party to back him in a vote on Tuesday. The prime minister will announce funding of about 40 million pounds ($54 million) to help so-called wet pubs that serve only drinks and will be required to close when the new restrictions come into force in England on Wednesday, a person familiar with the plan said. Under the rules, pubs and bars can only remain open in areas subject to high or very high level curbs if they operate as restaurants and serve substantial meals. […] These Tories worry that Johnson’s rules are too harsh and will cost jobs, while having damaging social and longer-term health impacts in areas where businesses are forced to close. […] I know that lots of people think that they are in the wrong tier and I understand people’s frustration,” the prime minister said in a pooled television interview.
