Coronavirus: Nigel Farage pub journey raised with Kent Police

The performing chief of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, has written to Kent Police asking them to research whether or not the Brexit Occasion chief Nigel Farage has damaged quarantine guidelines.

Mr Farage tweeted an image of himself at lunchtime on Saturday having a pint in a pub, as many companies in England reopened.

Precisely a fortnight in the past, Mr Farage tweeted from a visit to america – the place he was a visitor at a rally for President Trump.

Individuals travelling to the UK from the US are required to quarantine for a interval of 14 days from the second they arrive.

“There are clearly critical inquiries to reply for Nigel Farage,” Sir Ed mentioned.

“It’s clear from his social media posts that he was in America on 20 June, and he was pictured at a Trump rally that night. Given the present necessities for guests returning to the UK to isolate for 14 full days on their return, Nigel Farage seems to be in violation of the quarantine,” he added.

“By selecting to go to the pub when it seems he ought to have been staying at house, Mr Farage is exhibiting a flagrant disregard for the security of individuals in his neighborhood.”

In his letter to Kent’s chief constable, Alan Pughsley – which has additionally been despatched to Residence Secretary Priti Patel – the previous cupboard minister mentioned:

“I write to ask you to right away examine this problem, set up the timeline of occasions for Mr Farage’s return to the UK and set up whether or not Mr Farage was in breach of his quarantine. It’s critical that lives usually are not put in danger by breaches of quarantine.

“I’m copying this letter to the house secretary as I imagine this case illustrates the difficulties that the police and Residence Workplace could have in imposing the quarantine guidelines as they’re presently set out.”

So how has Mr Farage managed to quarantine again within the UK for 14 days, if he was within the States two weeks in the past?

He insists he has “been again from the USA for 2 weeks.”

His spokesman advised me he flew straight again to Britain on the identical day – and claimed {that a} adverse coronavirus check after he obtained again meant he might head again out and about once more.

However the Division of Well being has advised me getting a check doesn’t get you out of quarantining – self isolating at house – as a result of a check might quantity to a false adverse; you might be harbouring the virus however not but symptomatic.

Writing on Twitter, Alexandra Phillips, a former Brexit Occasion MEP who as soon as labored as Nigel Farage’s media adviser, mentioned:

“Expensive Ed Davey, The police have higher issues to do, you unhappy little man. Getting an officer to go to Nigel’s home to inform him he should not have gone to the pub is a complete waste of assets and makes you appear to be a pathetic, attention-seeking twerp.”