Neil Bannon on the Imposition of Essential Goods

The inconsistent and illogical nature of the imposition of essential goods only sales in retail across the country is causing serious damage to the sector.

We have reports from across the portfolio of local Jewellers who are operating on a Click & Collect basis being told to pull their shutter, a news agency being advised that can sell cigarettes and lotto tickets but not books or magazines, a florist being told to close who traded during the last (and more severe) lockdown.

The government needs to think about where this spend will go. A customer told they cannot buy a magazine or a book in a shop that is already open is one click away from redirecting spend from a small local business to Jeff Bezos