SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has thanked police who stopped a family attempting to travel more than 400 miles from London to Motherwell for a three-day break during lockdown.
The family of four’s behaviour has been ridiculed online after Cumbria Roads Police tweeted about the incident. The group was fined for breaking Covid-19 guidelines, which only allow for essential travel, and advised to return to London.
SNP MP Blackford – who has been a vocal critic of those flouting lockdown rules to travel to Scotland, particularly rural areas – said there should not be exceptions to the law.
READ MORE: Lockdown: Family fined over trip from London to Motherwell
Replying to the force’s Twitter account, he wrote: "Thank you @CumbriaRoadsPol for your actions. Non-essential travel cannot be allowed. There can be no exceptions #StayHomeSaveLifes.
"Nobody should think of travelling on holiday. There has to be zero tolerance of this kind of behaviour."
Thank you @CumbriaRoadsPol for your actions. Non essential travel cannot be allowed. There can be no exceptions #StayHomeSaveLifes Nobody should think of travelling on holiday. There has to be zero tolerance of this kind of behaviour. https://t.co/qw1euUvjoj
— Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) May 8, 2020
Since the force posted the tweet yesterday it has sparked conversation among Scots, receiving more than 1000 retweets and hundreds of replies.
Many were confused about the family’s intended destination. Had they travelled all the way there and back, it would have been an 800-mile round-trip.
One Twitter user wrote: "What's wrong with these people? Who in their right mind would go for a three day break in Motherwell."
Another posted: "What part of London is so bad that Motherwell is considered a holiday resort?"
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