JD Wetherspoon plunged into a loss of £ 105million for the year as Frankish President Tim Martin launched a scathing attack on government policy
The boss of the street giant attacked ministers’ handling of the pandemic, as he lambasted the use of masks and the 10 p.m. curfew
The entrepreneur behind the popular chain is fighting to keep the 870 bars alive – and 40,000 employees employed
From the year to July, sales fell 30% to £ 1.26 billion and the split to shareholders – which includes 10,000 staff – fell from 12p per share to zero
M Martin called on the government to follow Sweden’s coronavirus approach in a bid to save its pubs
Sweden was one of the few European countries not to impose a mandatory lockdown, with pubs and restaurants allowed to remain open as health officials opted for a ‘herd immunity’ campaign to fight against the pandemic
The Frankish President has suggested UK follow suit, as more than half of England prepare to enter government ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk Covid alert levels
The move means that from midnight Friday millions more people will be banned from mixing with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants
Condemning the measures, M Martin said: ‘It appears the government and its advisers were clearly uncomfortable as the country emerged from lockdown
He continued, « For example, a table service requirement was introduced – which is expensive to implement and undermines the essential nature of pubs for many people – pubs have now become like restaurants
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« Customers can approach the cashier in a store, but not in a pub – which is by no means » scientific « »
In a context referring to Sir Isaac Newton and Warren Buffett, among others, Mr. Martin called government policy « complete cobblers »
He brought up M’s concern Buffett that governments and businesses tend to copy each other – an « institutional imperative » that « weakens rationality »
« Since 100 governments adopted a foreclosure strategy, it was very difficult for a government to take a different course, » said M Martin
« The lockdown has taken much longer than needed to achieve its stated goal of ‘flattening the curve’ to help the health service »
Of the masks, he said: “Face coverings, for which the health benefits are questionable, do not need to be worn while sitting, but must be worn when going to the bathroom – a other capricious regulation «
Martin accused the government of acting on a « rampant basis » as if it were in permanent election mode
He told Standard: « Last week Sweden killed 16, we had 600 Adjusted for the population, we are six times worse than Sweden
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Wetherspoons, Tim Martin, Coronavirus, Pub Channel
World news – GB – ‘Spoons boss blows up masks as he calls on UK to’ « become Swedish »
