Home Secretary Priti Patel declared “there are still too many people” travelling in out of the country today as she announced fresh measures “to reduce passenger flow”.
Anyone planning to travel overseas will be required to submit a declaration explaining the need for their trip, which will be vetted by carriers, with policing stepped up at airports to enforce the rules.
Patel told MPs: “We will be stepping up enforcement for those travelling outside the UK.”
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She insisted: “Going on holiday is not a valid reason for travel.
“People wishing to travel must first make a declaration of why they need to travel and this will be checked by carriers.”
Patel was speaking following confirmation by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of a new system of mandatory hotel quarantine for UK arrivals from 22 countries from which travel bans are in place.
The Home Secretary said: “There are still too many people coming in and out of our country each day. So today I am announcing further measures to reduce passenger flow.
“For those entering the UK, the police are stepping up checks. We will continue to refuse entry to [those from] ‘red list’ countries [from which travel is banned].
“We will introduce a managed isolation process for those who cannot be refused entry. The Department for Health and Social Care will set out details of this next week.”
She added: “We will increase the policing presence at ports and airports. Anyone without a valid reason for travel will be sent home or fined.
“And we will urgently review the list of travel exemptions.”
Patel insisted: “Stepping up enforcement means if you do not comply you will be fined.”
However, Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds and called for tougher restrictions and a “comprehensive hotel quarantine” system.
He said: “Limiting the hotel quarantine means the proposal does not go anywhere near far enough.”
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