Gove says face masks shouldn’t be mandatory but they’re ‘basic good manners’
Michael Gove has said he doesn’t believe face coverings should be made compulsory in shops, but described wearing one as ‘basic good manners’.
Boris Johnson is currently facing increasing pressure to follow Scotland in bringing in the requirement next week. At present, face coverings are only mandatory in hospitals and on public transport in England.
But appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show this morning, Gove said he thought the government could trust British public’s ‘common sense’ to wear a mask while in confined indoor spaces, such as shops.
The Cabinet minister said: ‘I don’t think [they should be] mandatory no, but I would encourage people to wear a face mask where they are inside, in an environment where they are likely to be mixing with others and where the ventilation may not be good.
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‘I think it is basic good manners, courtesy and consideration to wear a face mask if you are, for example, in a shop.’
He added: ‘I trust people’s good sense. Of course, the government at all times does look at the emerging evidence about what the best way to control the disease is. If necessary, if tough measures are required, like we’ve seen in Leicester, then tough measures will be taken.
‘My view is it is always better to trust people’s common sense, to give them a clear sense of what is wise and I think individuals and businesses are responding well to that lead.’
Gove also confirmed his stance in conversation with Sky’s Sophy Ridge this morning, telling her that he thought people were intelligent enough to know when to wear a mask.
Asked if the government’s advice on face coverings was confusing, he replied: ‘I think that people are in intelligent. I think that people can understand this is a novel virus with specific challenges. There are appropriate moments of course when a direct message to say to people “don’t do X” or “do do Y” is appropriate.
‘But I also think it’s right to treat the British people with the respect that their intelligence and their judgement deserves. In this case, one of the things that I think is right to say: Outside, you don’t need to wear a face mask. Inside, particularly in a closed space with poor ventilation, it is absolutely a good idea.’
The Prime Minister is expected to make an announcement in the coming days which will make wearing face coverings compulsory in shops in the same way as they are on public transport. He now has just days to push the new guidance through Parliament before the summer recess begins.
Speaking on Friday, Johnson said: ‘I do think we need to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces where they are meeting people they don’t normally meet. We are looking at ways of making sure that people really do have face coverings in shops, for instance, where there is a risk of transmission.’
Experts have long-welcomed the introduction of compulsory face masks to other parts of public life, with several scientists stating that not wearing one should be seen as taboo as ‘not wearing a seat belt’ this week.
Speaking to Marr after Gove, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said she thought ‘some clarity’ from the government on the issues of face masks would be ‘helpful’ for the public.
She added: ‘People want to do the right thing but they want to know what the right thing is. We already have it on public transport. I think it would inspire greater confidence and might encourage more people to go out and spend money if they see more people wearing face masks in shops.’
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