First Minister to review “how the weekend has gone” in supermarkets following ban on non essential products

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he will review “how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets” and make sure that “common sense is applied.”

Supermarkets in Wales have been banned from selling ‘non-essential’ items during the two-week firebreak lockdown which began at 6pm yesterday.

The move has brought fierce criticism from both opposition politicians and the public alike but the First Minister said the ban was to create a “level the playing field with small and high street stores.”

“We are looking to minimise the amount of time that people spend out of their homes during this two week period.”

“This is not a period to be browsing around supermarkets looking for non-essential goods.” He said.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) raised concerns about the closure of all non-essential retail, they said it is creating an unfair advantage if supermarkets are able to continue selling non-essential items. FSB said that at a time when small businesses on the high street are forced to close, it would be an “unacceptable advantage” for supermarkets particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

Conservative Shadow Minister for the Economy MS Russell George raised the matter of supermarkets selling clothing and hardware during the previous lockdown and said it felt ‘very wrong.’

Speaking in a Senedd committee on Thursday, Russell George MS said: “In regards to which businesses are required to close, in the previous lockdown there were businesses such as clothing, hardware shops were required to close.

“Businesses such as Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, were selling those items of clothing and hardware, and it felt very wrong and disproportionate to the small businesses.

First Minister Mark Drakeford replied to him: “I think in the first set of restrictions people were reasonably understanding of the fact that supermarkets didn’t close all the things that they may have needed to.

“I don’t think people will be as understanding this time, and we will be making it clear to supermarkets they are only able to open those parts of their business that provide essential goods to people – and that will not include some of the things that Russell George has mentioned that other people are prevented from selling.”

“So we will make sure that there is a more level playing field in those next two weeks.”

Mr Russell has since distanced himself from the move, he tweeted today: “I don’t support the Welsh Government’s approach to banning non-essential sales in Welsh shops, I’m the one that got the FM to admit his plans! Retail should be open, the National lockdown is the wrong approach.”

The Leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament, Paul Davies MS, said he has written to the Presiding Officer calling for Parliament to be recalled to discuss the decision to ban the selling of “non-essential.”

Currently, Members of the Welsh Parliament are in the October half-term recess.

Mr Davies said: “It is madness that people have been banned from buying books, bins and baby clothes in local shops. The Welsh Labour-led Government may not think these items are essential, but many will beg to differ.”

The issue is currently subject to a petition of more than 34,000 signatures by 8pm on the first day of it being launched.

Pictures posted on social media of supermarket isles being cordoned off and ‘non-essential’ items covered over in plastic sheeting have been shared thousands of times and have caused a huge amount of anger – we took the top picture in a local supermarket earlier today.

Welsh Government issued a clarification tonight:

Supermarkets can keep selling items you can find in other essential shops – such as stationery/greeting cards.

The purpose of selling essential items only during firebreak is to discourage spending more time than necessary in shops and to be fair to retailers who have to close.

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) October 24, 2020

This is not for the sake of being difficult – we need to do everything we can to minimise the time we spend outside our homes. This will help save lives and protect the NHS.

Please see a list of the shops that can remain open here 👇

Diolch.https://t.co/6pihMnYdWO

— Welsh Government (@WelshGovernment) October 24, 2020

In a tweet this evening First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Thank you for all your efforts over the last 24 hours to stay at home. We know people are fed up. It’s not easy, but we all have a responsibility to stop the virus spreading.”

“We’ll be reviewing how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets and making sure that common sense is applied. Supermarkets can sell anything that can be sold in any other type of shop that isn’t required to close. In the meantime, please only leave home if you need to.”

We’ll be reviewing how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets and making sure that common sense is applied. Supermarkets can sell anything that can be sold in any other type of shop that isn’t required to close. In the meantime, please only leave home if you need to.

— Mark Drakeford (@fmwales) October 24, 2020

Since the above tweet it appears the message is taking some time to filter down locally, and it appears online orders from supermarkets are unaffected:

It has just taken me 15 minutes in @tesco @wrexham to buy a NOTEPAD! Even when i was showing the duty manager the tweet from the official welsh government twitter page, i was basically called a liar. Eventually i got said gold dust, sorry i mean notepad. 🤦‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/I4nMZzuBYQ

— Jessica. (@jessfarrall) October 24, 2020