Drag Race UK icon Divina de Campo brutally sums up everything wrong with Boris Johnson’s new lockdown rules in 14 words
Divina de Campo has criticised the government’s return to work advice. (Getty/Sky News)
Divina de Campo unpicked the fatal flaw in Boris Johnson’s ‘back to work’ instruction amid a tentative easing of lockdown.
People in England who are unable to work from home are from Wednesday (May 13) being encouraged to go back to their workplaces.
Announcing the first gradual stage out of lockdown, the prime minister has advised workers to avoid public transport where possible.
But as many have pointed out, this is not a realistic proposition for many, in particular working class people with a lengthy commute and for whom driving, walking or cycling aren’t viable options.
Divina de Campo points out the obvious.
Drag Race UK finalist Divina de Campo is among the many who have criticised the return to work message as footage of packed London buses circulated on social media.
“You cannot force low wage workers back to work and then be shocked that they have to use public transport to get there,” they wrote.
“Not everyone can afford a car or to be walking distance from their job.”
You cannot force low wage workers back to work and then be shocked that they have to use public transport to get there.
Not everyone can afford a car or to be walking distance from their job. https://t.co/20DYfciNoc
— Divina De Campo (@Divinadecampo) May 13, 2020
Back to work advice prompts crowding on public transport.
Workers using the capital’s public transport network this morning have reported “pre-lockdown” levels of crowding, with a reduced number of services forcing commuters in closer proximity than they would otherwise be.
Transport for London estimated on Monday (May 11) that even at full capacity, it will only be able to carry about 13 to 15 percent of its usual number of passengers while maintaining the two-metre social distancing rule.
Currently TfL is running a fraction of its usual service, however it has said it is working to restore bus capacity to 85 per cent (currently 80) and tube capacity to 70 per cent (currently 60) by May 18.
Transport secretary says he wouldn’t use public transport.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has admitted that he wouldn’t personally get on a busy tube train or bus.
He urged people to use walking, cycling or cars, acknowledging that only “one in 10 people will be able to travel [on public transport] without overcrowding”.
Despite this, Schapps confirmed there will not be any official policing of trans and buses.
Instead, he told Sky News, the government is relying on “gentle advice or exhortation” – unless the rate of transmission (R) goes up, in which case the stay at home order will be revived.
Shapps also recommended that face coverings “may be helpful”. The official government advice for making face coverings at home involves cutting down old t-shirts – in other words, making yourself a matching face mask-crop top set.
