Jim McMahon – 2020 Comments on Protecting Jobs in Travel Industry

Comments made by Jim McMahon, the Shadow Transport Secretary, on 29 July 2020.

The Government’s handling of this issue has been nothing short of chaotic. The airline industry and passengers need clarity.

The past few days have been symptomatic of the Government who were too slow to enter the lockdown, too slow to get vital protective equipment to NHS, social care and other key workers, and too slow on testing and tracing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It will take a long time to recover from the impact of the virus. The Government must focus support on the sectors that desperately need it, like aviation, aerospace and its supply chain, which supports almost a quarter of a million jobs, with strict climate conditions and ensuring the gains are shared with the public.