Rishi Sunak did not flout lockdown rules by holding a meeting in a branch of a pizza chain in Waterloo to discuss his latest business support package, because it was “not a functioning restaurant at the time”, the Treasury has said. The Treasury issued a press release featuring 12 photos of the chancellor and the communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, sitting around a table at a branch of Franco Manca in south London with representatives of hospitality businesses. The mixing of members of different households in indoor hospitality settings is currently prohibited in the capital, and office staff are urged to work from home where possible.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman was asked on Thursday about whether business meetings could be held in restaurants or cafes in areas under tier 2 restrictions. He said: “There is an exemption for work meetings to take place in hospitality settings. Our intention when providing that exemption had been to provide the opportunity for freelancers or for the self-employed who didn’t have an office space to work in, to use hospitality if necessary.” He added: “What we would ask people to do wherever possible is to hold meetings remotely, via phone or via video conference or whatever it might be.” Challenged about whether Sunak had broken the rules, a Treasury spokesperson said: “The restaurant was not a functioning restaurant at the time. There were no customers in the restaurant at the time and it was all Covid-secure including face masks worn and social distanced.” Attendees were pictured seated apart from one another around long tables, with pastries and water.
Aides said Sunak believed it was important to show his support and solidarity with the hard-hit hospitality sector, which has been pressing for more financial backing for months. Sunak had previously been criticised for launching his “eat out to help out” scheme in the summer by serving food at a branch of the noodle chain Wagamama without wearing a face mask – though they were not mandatory for hospitality staff until September. Treasury announcements are meticulously branded and often feature Sunak’s signature prominently, sometimes to the irritation of Tory colleagues. Adviser Cass Horowitz is often credited with burnishing his personal brand.