Businesses leaders from the across the country have called on the Prime Minister to maintain its current timetable for reopening the economy.
In a letter sent by Cities Restart, a business network aimed to ensuring the economic recovery of UK cities after the pandemic, the organisation urged the Prime Minister to stick to the timetable set out in his previously published roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions on business. Co-signatories on the letter included representatives from across the economy, including Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, Craig Beaumont of the Federation of Small Business and Chris Oglesby, CEO of Manchester-based commercial property company, Bruntwood.
The praised the ongoing vaccine rollout, as well as the increased availability of workplace testing for their ability in allowing the country to manage Covid-19 cases and keep the course set out earlier this year by the Prime Minister.
Cities Restart was also joined by a number of UK airports, including London Gatwick and London City Airport, in asking for the government to explore ways to reopen international business travel to help the UK’s economy to be boosted through international trade opportunities.
Cities Restart Managing Director, Derek Ray-Hill said:
Our letter urges the PM to continue to reopen and take a sensible approach to restarting international travel. This requires more testing, vaccine certification and the ability to use the NHS app as a verification platform. We have the lowest rate of office occupancy in the G7 during this pandemic and the worst recession. We also have the highest death rate, even outpacing the United States. Other large economies have managed to keep going whilst also dealing with this pandemic.
“Now – for the first time – the UK is ahead. Lockdown has done the job. Coronavirus is under control. We must use the advantage of our world-beating vaccine programme to reopen.”
The organisation has confirmed it has received a positive response from the Prime Minister to its letter, which was also sent to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Gove.