Government’s ‘mixed messages’ cause chaos as people flock to beaches ahead of lockdown easing


Support us and go ad-free

People have flocked to beaches and train stations to enjoy the sunny weather ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased on 1 June.

Hundreds swarmed to popular beaches, and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) warned that “mixed messages” from the government has caused travel chaos.

Temperatures have soared well above the average for the time of year, with clear skies and highs of 28C on Saturday, according to the Met Office.

Many people enjoyed the sunny weather on the coast by Durdle Door, near Lulworth in Dorset, despite police forces urging the public to “think twice” before travelling to crowded spots.

Related articles

Read on...

Southend-on-Sea
People enjoying the good weather on the beach at Southend-on-Sea (PA)

Dorset Police said on 29 May: “Relaxation of lockdown legislation, coupled with warm and sunny weather, has seen a huge rise in the number of people travelling into Dorset to spend time at beauty spots, nature reserves and coastline.

“As the country continues to fight Covid-19 and keep the R rate (an infection measure) down, the public is being asked to take responsibility for their actions and do the right thing to avoid spreading the virus and reduce the impact on local communities.”

Similar scenes were seen in around England:

RMT union leaders described Bournemouth as “the eye of the storm”:

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “The hopeless mixed messaging from the government and the impact of the (Dominic) Cummings affair has resulted in predictable chaos on the railway today, with Bournemouth at the eye of the storm.

“This is on Boris Johnson and he cannot shirk responsibility.

“RMT has warned that lifting the lockdown too quickly would soon result in chaos on our transport services, and here you have it.

“This union will take whatever action is required to protect the health, safety and livelihoods of our members.”

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us
  • Show Comments

    2. This is par for the course. The ‘Cummings effect’ is a natural result of these inept Tory clowns
      who have racked up 65,000+ deaths by the end of May. It will get much worse but as the sheep flock to beaches, etc, the Tories are busy restructuring the economy to favour big businesses. M & S businesses will fail & the Amazons, etc, will take over…..the Tory job is done.

      Report comment

    3. Anyone, surely, with an ounce of ‘common sense’ while we all know a deadly contagion is at large amongst us, and whatever flavour of government is operating which advises us to self-distance notwithstanding any government having ‘a Cummings’ for us to obsess about, we only have ourselves to blame when the virus’s killing spree gathers apace once more? I mean – for heaven’s sake – do these beach flockers have not a single brain cell?

      Report comment

    Leave a Reply

    Join the conversation

    Please read our comment moderation policy here.

Related articles