Sammy Wilson: Face masks will decrease footfall on our high streets and in a free society they should be optional

It is surprising that at a time when were supposed to be emerging into a greater degree of normality that the health minister Robin Swann is supporting a move towards the mandatory use of face masks in shops.
By Sammy Wilson
Published 16th Jul 2020, 12:01 BST
Updated 16th Jul 2020, 12:31 BST
A group of young women walk through Belfast city centre's shopping district wearing face masks voluntarily on Tuesday, the day it was announced face masks will become mandatory in shops in England. Robin Swann has advised the same for Northern Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA WireA group of young women walk through Belfast city centre's shopping district wearing face masks voluntarily on Tuesday, the day it was announced face masks will become mandatory in shops in England. Robin Swann has advised the same for Northern Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
A group of young women walk through Belfast city centre's shopping district wearing face masks voluntarily on Tuesday, the day it was announced face masks will become mandatory in shops in England. Robin Swann has advised the same for Northern Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Even at the height of the pandemic, the minister and his experts were questioning the value of face masks, other than in environments of extreme risk such as hospitals, care homes etc.

Many shops stayed open and did regular, normal business at the height of the pandemic. Customers were not required to wear face masks, yet there was no massive outbreak of coronavirus amongst shop workers.

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Now at a time when we are trying to entice people out of their homes, back to work and back to normal commercial behaviour in order to restore the economy, we are faced with the likely compulsory wearing of face masks in shops.

The Health Minister Robin Swann at a Covid-19 briefing on June 30. Sammy Wilson says: "At the height of the pandemic, the minister and his experts questioned the value of face masks, other than in environments of extreme risk such as hospitals. Now when we are trying to entice people back to normal behaviour, we face compulsory masks in shops"The Health Minister Robin Swann at a Covid-19 briefing on June 30. Sammy Wilson says: "At the height of the pandemic, the minister and his experts questioned the value of face masks, other than in environments of extreme risk such as hospitals. Now when we are trying to entice people back to normal behaviour, we face compulsory masks in shops"
The Health Minister Robin Swann at a Covid-19 briefing on June 30. Sammy Wilson says: "At the height of the pandemic, the minister and his experts questioned the value of face masks, other than in environments of extreme risk such as hospitals. Now when we are trying to entice people back to normal behaviour, we face compulsory masks in shops"

First of all, this will only reinforce the fear of many, who having had the life scared out of them by warnings of death on a biblical scale, will feel that it remains unsafe to come out.

Secondly, for those who do not want to wear face masks, it will decrease footfall on our high streets and drive people towards the online market.

Thirdly, it is unclear as to how such rules would be enforced. Does the minister expect hard pressed shop owners to throw people out of their shops because they are not wearing a face mask?

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Does he expect every shop owner to go to the cost of employing security who will carry out this enforcement?

Rt Hon Sammy Wilson is MP for East Antrim and DUP chief whip in the House of CommonsRt Hon Sammy Wilson is MP for East Antrim and DUP chief whip in the House of Commons
Rt Hon Sammy Wilson is MP for East Antrim and DUP chief whip in the House of Commons

Does he expect councils to employ additional health officers to patrol shops and shopping centres? Or is this a job to be left to the PSNI?

How would they enforce it in areas where their acceptability remains low?

There is no point introducing a rule which cannot be enforced and which will be resisted, as the reactions of the public have already demonstrated.

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Over the last number of months, the population as a whole have accepted a degree of state interference in their lives, which in a free society should never be regarded as a permanent arrangement.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

As we try to move towards a form of normality, surely the level of state interference in our lives should also be reduced, not increased.

It should be up to individuals to decide what actions they wish to take to ensure their own safety and their social responsibility for others.

• Rt Hon Sammy Wilson is MP for East Antrim and DUP chief whip in the House of Commons

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Related topics:Face masksRobin SwannSammy WilsonPSNINorthern IrelandEast Antrim