High Court speeds up case to reopen indoor hospitality before mid-May
High-profile campaigners are battling the government’s timeline for allowing indoor service
A High Court judge has allowed a case to reopen indoor hospitality brought against the UK government to speed up proceedings.
Westminster now has to file evidence by April 16 to prove that pubs and restaurants should not resume indoor service before May 17, as set by the roadmap.
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Judge Mrs Justice Eady said the case will be granted permission to go to judicial review in the week starting April 19.
“I accept that there is a need to expedite consideration of this matter if the challenge is not to be rendered academic by passage of time,” she was reported as saying by Sky News.
This again proves, as we did with the substantial meal, that the Government cannot make decisions, unless backed up with evidence.
Both myself and @hughosmond are delighted with todays decision.
All we ever asked for was fairness and facts.
Today, is a win for Hospitality.
— Sacha Lord (@Sacha_Lord) April 6, 2021
The challenge was brought by Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, and Hugh Osmond, founder of Pizza Express, and recently-created PLC (LON:VARE).
“There is no hard evidence to keep indoor hospitality, with measures in place, closed until 17 May,” Lord said earlier this week.
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