This Morning viewers in uproar after expert talks about loophole for travelling

This Morning viewers were left unimpressed after travel expert Simon Calder spoke about the ‘loophole’ for people travelling in and out of the UK.

Speaking via video-link to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on Monday’s instalment, Simon highlighted the ‘exception’ of people arriving in the UK that don’t want to be quarantined.

‘For people arriving in the UK, they will need to quarantine from 8 June onwards so obviously people who do wish not to be quarantined, who are abroad at the moment, they just need to get back by midnight by 7 June,’ Simon began.

Ruth then asked: ‘There are exceptions aren’t there?’

Simon replied: ‘There are many exceptions, transport workers, seasonal agricultural workers, people working in the medical professions, who need to help us with the coronavirus outbreak.

‘And indeed anyone coming in from the common travel area, as you know that’s the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and that’s created the so-called “Dublin Dodge” where all you need to do, actually if you don’t fancy quarantining is to fly to Dublin Airport, put a foot on Irish soil and then fly whichever UK airport you want.’

He added: ‘I am not condoning this, it will increase the risk to everyone you encounter on the way but I am afraid that loophole is sitting very much in the middle of the quarantine rules.’

This Morning viewers quickly took to social media, with many unhappy with the fact the loophole was even mentioned.

One tweeted: ‘Simon!! Stop telling people how to do it then!!’

Another commented; ‘If one person now uses this loophole because he mentioned it and starts the increase of R off again then it’s on your head’

One added: ‘Well why did you mention the loophole Simon?’

‘Why are they promoting loopholes on TV? Surely they should let people work it out for themselves,’ another viewer continued.

The current government guidelines for those returning to the UK from a flight from another country state you should ‘go straight home, avoiding public transport where possible.

‘If you can, wear a face covering if you need to use public transport and only people living in your household should collect you on arrival.’

The rules for entering or returning to the UK are changing on 8 June.

Metro.co.uk has reached out to ITV for comment.

This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.

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