Published on Monday, March 22, 2021

Defence Secretary: 'Premature' to book summer trips abroad

Another government minister has weighed in to reel in expectations that overseas holidays will be permitted by mid-May. There is no guarantee this will happen, says Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. He didn't rule out extending international travel curbs.

Wallace told the BBC that booking a summer trip abroad now would be 'premature.' According to the roadmap out of lockdown, the earliest date people in England could travel abroad for leisure is 17 May.

It will be clearer when the government taskforce reports to the Prime Minister on 12 April. Wallace's comments follow those of government advisor Dr Mike Tildesley who said summer trips will be 'unlikely' due to the risk of bringing variants back to the UK.

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