Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out scheme after COVID-19 surge

Chancellor Rishi Sunak says we can't jump to "simplistic conclusions" over claims Eat Out To Help Out may have helped spread COVID-19.

He played down a possible link between his scheme for discounted meals in August and the growing rise in coronavirus cases across the country.

He said: "More broadly, if you think of the spread of the virus this time around, what's happening here is pretty much in sync with what's happening around the world in second waves."

Mr Sunak also highlighted how the South West had seen the greatest use of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, in proportion to the size of the local population, and was now a region with some of the lowest incidences of COVID-19 "anywhere in the country".

[mariaunderwood]

As someone who works in a restaurant. The eat in to help out brought no social distancing and more stress on staff xx

[philharrison]

I may not agree with Rishi but at least he comes across as professional.

[hugosaurus]

The eyes are open, the lips move, but Mr Brain has long since departed.

[ssj]

I think it was a good scheme, just annoying that they blamed the students and imposed a 10pm curfew which is now screwing the hospitality industry

[alexander]

Is it just me or does he sound like Will off The Inbetweeners?
😂

[PopeyeBjj]

The only thing eat out to help out helped was the spread of covid.

[Afella]

So reassuring that an investigation had been launched, completely trust our government.

[muskett]

Imagine a criminal being caught then being allowed to do the investigation into it and finding themselves innocent, totally corrupt.

[mimid.]

Seems like this journalist wants to slap the hell out of Rishi's face

[kenhooker]

This is a puppet show. They are both controlled by the same puppeteer. Anyone who can't see through this should go to Specsavers

[jamalwilson]

Regardless of how many PCR tests are carried out it can't and will never be able to diagnose Covid 19...sick of this charade!

[linlin-zdpx]

The economy is more important than people's lives ?! The died never come back, mad - sadness !

[NoMercy-btxg]

So I take it prolonged mask wearing isn't working then Boris 🤣. Who else is fed up with seeing masks all over the place. Why have shops, college's, universities not been given clinical bags for the disposal of masks and gloves and then sent for incineration? If this was actually about controlling a spread then proper infection control procedures would of been put in place. This government or more to the point its advisors are putting the general public at more risk than the threat of covid itself.

[iabaca]

It was stupid to make it ONLY eat out. If they allowed takeaway, they would have been so much better

[hey_ashy]

Hire your public school boy mates who have no clue what they are doing and bingo... excel spreadsheets instead of a proper database!

[XAE_A_Xii]

Is he mimicking Boris Johnson's way of speaking?

[sheriffm]

Like just yesterday he said stay home stay safe.

[natasshagupta]

Why the reporter is so rude in the interview to Rishi Sunak?
Rude questions rude attitude?
If we swap the roles right now the reporter won’t be able to survive a day in Rishi Sunak’s shoes. Rishi Sunak is under pressure at present and brilliantly trying his best to keep the country’s economy going.
More power to Rishi Sunak 👏🏼👍🏼

[BingoBongoBingerz]

Absolutely bonkers. We didn't help out, we just prolonged a massive 2 trillion pound debt to be paid back. Next year will be about tax rises and cutting the national minimum wage.

[abhinavanand]

One of the brightest mind in politics right now...