U.K. Minister Says She Can’t Remember Detail of Covid Rules

(Bloomberg) -- A U.K. minister said she didn’t know the details of the government’s new Covid-19 restrictions, which come into force at midnight on Tuesday.

Gillian Keegan, minister for skills, was asked on BBC radio if the ban on households mixing in northeastern England meant they would still able to meet in the gardens of pubs and restaurants. “I’m sorry I can’t clarify that,” she said. “I’m sure there are many people who could. I don’t represent the North East.”

The opposition Labour Party seized on Keegan’s comments, claiming it showed the government is out of touch with real people’s concerns amid confusion over the rules.

“It speaks volumes that even the government’s own ministers don’t know what’s going on,” Labour health spokesman Alex Norris said in an email. “This will do little to inspire public confidence in the North East and across the country.”

Keegan said it was more important that people knew what the details were where they live and she didn’t want to get the details wrong.

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