follows on Sacha Lord's successful challenge regarding the government’s "ludicrous Scotch egg proposal" last November, which classified the dish as a 'substantial meal' for the purposes of tier regulations, which banned drinking in pubs unless food was ordered too.
He added: "Judges confirmed that the measure ‘lacked a proper scientific evidential basis’ and found that where a government acts without evidence it risks having its decisions overturned."
He added that "by returning to court in a bid to have the end of the hospitality lockdown brought forward to April 12 we hope to provide a boost for the industry’s workforce – more than three million people – and the millions of loyal customers who have been deprived of the human social interaction they experience in our premises.
"Hospitality is essential for local communities, businesses and economies because our ability to socialise is critical to our mental health and – when it comes to covid – our sector is significantly safer than non-essential retail where the risk of transmission is higher."
The above, he said, was ensured because businesses went to great lengths to make their businesses 'Covid-secure,' by hiring additional cleaners, implementing track and trace systems and implementing one-way systems, sit-down service, installing ventilation units, etc.
"With all these measures in place, it is obvious that hospitality venues are safer than crowded shops," he added, which translated into much lower transmission rates than in other settings.
And, as a result, the number of outbreaks in hospitality venues was significantly lower than the totals reported in other venues, settings or workplaces.
"And yet – while we remain closed – from April 12 people will resume browsing and queuing in shops where they will walk around freely, touching surfaces and handles, picking up items and getting closer to other shoppers than they would if they were in a bar or restaurant.
"I understand the desire for caution and the imperative need for this to be the last lockdown we ever face. But if we are to impose lockdowns which have a catastrophic effect on the economy and our health and welfare, we must make sure these decisions stand up to scrutiny.
"In the hospitality sector alone revenues have been slashed by £200 million a day and 660,000 jobs have been destroyed. Between now and 17 May – the date set for the indoor reopening of hospitality businesses – more than 3,500 pubs, bars and restaurants will close their doors for ever.
"It shouldn’t be difficult for the government to justify its roadmap timetable if the science, data and evidence have been followed. But if the government refuses to respond, we will issue judicial review proceedings without further notice. I hope our case can open up a chink of light at the end of this very dark chapter so that we can – as the Prime Minister said – ‘reclaim our lives and freedoms once and for all’.”
The government is due to provide the pair with a response by Wednesday, 17th March.
