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Dowden says loophole allowing business lunches was ‘conscious choice’

Oliver Dowden 
Oliver Dowden

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said a loophole allowing people to have business lunches with other workers in high-risk coronavirus regions was a “conscious choice”.

People living under Tier 2 restrictions in England cannot meet indoors with members of other households, but they can meet for lunch so long as it is for “work purposes”.

Speaking on ITV’s Peston, Mr Dowden said: “We’ve made a conscious choice through this crisis to prioritise people’s jobs and livelihoods, and that means allowing people to go to work or as normally as we can in this crisis...

“Work includes business functions and that’s why the definition has been extended to cover this.”

Some of the City’s top restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Galvin La Chapelle, The Wolseley and steakhouse chains Gaucho and M Restaurants, have taken advantage of the exemption.

When asked whether people would use the loophole as an excuse to meet friends, Mr Dowden said that the public “understand why we're doing this”, adding that Britons have “shown a good deal of common sense” during the crisis.

Government guidance stipulates that up to 30 people from different households may meet indoors for work purposes as long as the meeting place follows Covid guidelines.

The coronavirus three-tier system explained
The coronavirus three-tier system explained

Earlier this week, Downing Street stressed that the move was designed for freelancers or the self-employed who do not have an office to conduct face-to-face meetings.

However, it is understood that this is simply guidance and individuals who meet for a working lunch will not be liable for fines.

Many restaurants in central London rely on business lunches to bring in a hefty chunk of sales from Monday to Friday.