Thread by @pmdfoster

So. What about that 14-day #coronavirus quarantine plan for people arriving from overseas?

Well, all FIVE major manufacturing groups warning it could cause production disruption and shortages. My latest for @ft.com 1/Thread

ft.com/content/47289c…

@FT The problem? Well, it turns out that UK factories that use integrated supply chains and automated equipment from Japan, Germany or Czech Republic, say, need servicing and maintaining, and this is often done by 'fly in, fly out' specialist engineers /2

@FT From my conversations, it doesn't seem like the government did enough forward-thinking on this, given the speed and short notice of much of the consultation process around this quarantine plan. Which is still to be finalised, is causing concern across entire 'M5' m'fring group/3

@FT That's automotive, aviation, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industry lobbies ALL warning that exemptions will be needed to ensure the smooth operation and safety of their factories.

That's quite the cast....

@SMMT
@See_Chem_Bus
@ABPI_UK
@ADSgroupUK
@Foodanddrinkfed /4

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed Ian Wright, the boss of @Foodanddrinkfed makes the basic point that engineers who come to fix a factory just wont bother if they have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrivial. That risks supply crunch. /5

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed .a similar point made by @PauleverittADS the boss of @ADSgroupUK who has written to Grant Shapps warning that quarantine will not only further hit aviation further but cause production line issues. Like the others they want "appropriate consultation". /6

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS What about autos? They have integrated supply chains and factories filled with highly complex robots that, it turns out, aren't all serviced by Brits. @MikeHawesSMMT warns that unless exemptions are granted, it risks

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT ...(sorry, itchy trigger finger on that last one re @MikeHawesSMMT and autos)....

...curtailing the very production restart that the government is asking for. /8

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT Then there is pharma and chemicals where both Richard Torbett @TorbettR boss of @ABPI_UK and Steve Elliott the boss of @See_Chem_Bus say that exemptions will be needed and - like others - that workplace measures are in place to ensure safety. /9

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT @TorbettR Consultations are on-going, but with a blanket exemption for all arrivals from France it may be hard for the government to argue against exemptions for engineers and executives needed to keep business running. Problem is, the "short list" might quickly become a long one. /10

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT @TorbettR One again, the common theme when talk to business on this is, wait for it, *frustration* - and yes, fwiw that does echo their experience of dealing with this government on Brexit - where basic practical realities seem not to get fed into the decision-making matrix /11

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT @TorbettR This @CharlieCooper8 @POLITICOEurope read on No 10 decision making is worth a read...it highlights the "obsessive" tracking of public opinion - which (libertarian froth aside) remains very wary of emerging from #coronavirus
#lockdown /12

politico.eu/article/boris-…

@FT @SMMT @See_Chem_Bus @ABPI_UK @ADSgroupUK @Foodanddrinkfed @PauleverittADS @MikeHawesSMMT @TorbettR @CharlieCooper8 @POLITICOEurope The question, as the details of this quarantine policy is thrashed out, is how to reconcile the political message "we're keeping you safe from risk of others bringing in infection from outside" with getting the economy grinding back to work. Watch this space. ENDS