London Daily

Focus on the big picture.

But… books ARE essential! Wales govt unleashes tsunami of anger & ridicule with ban of ‘non-essential’ goods in supermarkets

But… books ARE essential! Wales govt unleashes tsunami of anger & ridicule with ban of ‘non-essential’ goods in supermarkets

The government of Wales has received more than they bargained for after ordering supermarkets not to sell ‘non-essential’ goods… like clothing, books, phones and lots of other things that many people just can’t live without.

Customers of large retailers in Wales were greeted on Saturday with rows upon rows of shelves covered with plastic sheets or crisscrossed with tape. The businesses didn’t have much choice in the matter – they had to comply with new government guidelines meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Wales went into a 17-day “firebreak shutdown” on Friday evening, during which non-essential businesses will remain closed. And if a small shop cannot sell clothes, apparently neither can a giant retailer. That is because the government has to “maintain a level playing field” and not allow people “browsing around supermarkets looking for non-essential goods”, as First Minister Mark Drakeford put it. So, if you planned to buy warm clothes for your baby ahead of sub-zero-temperature weather, tough luck – order something online.


 

Naturally, many were not amused, and pounced on Drakeford and the Welsh Labour Party for coming up with the new rules. During Britain’s first national lockdown this spring, most small businesses were shuttered too, but supermarkets were allowed to sell their regular stock as usual.



Some even tried to defy the ban, or advocated non-compliance through their actions.


Others responded with somewhat morbid humor, ridiculing the new measures or suggesting how they could be circumvented.






The ban was announced without a clarification of what goods were considered non-essential, leaving large retailers to guess. Businesses allowed to remain open include bicycle shops and livestock auctions, so there was plenty of room for interpretation, and large corporations naturally took the conservative approach, much to the chagrin of their customers.

Books are one item many consider essential in their lives and would like to see made available during the next two weeks. There have also been complaints about the ban covering clothing, cleaning products, and, of course, fireworks for Guy Fawkes’ Night, which will take place in the second week of the lockdown.


Newsletter

Related Articles

London Daily
0:00
0:00
Close
US Warns Israel of Potential Aid Cuts Over Gaza Assistance Delays
Meta Faces Legal Battle Over Teen Social Media Addiction
UK Government Proposes Weight-Loss Injections to Combat Obesity and Boost Employment
UK Gambling Firms Face Market Turmoil Amid Possible Tax Hike
Labour MP Criticizes UK's Dependence on Elon Musk's X
Tracey Emin Questions the Longevity of Male Artists' Creativity
Pay Growth Decline in Great Britain May Lead to Interest Rate Cuts
David Cameron Reveals Planned Sanctions on Israeli Ministers
UK Unveils Weight Loss Jabs for Unemployed to Boost Health and Economy
Incineration: UK's Dirtiest Power Source
Potential National Insurance Rise for Employers Under Consideration
Russia's Call for a BRICS Financial System Alternative
Indigenous Groups in Brazil Protest Carbon Credit Deal
Only A Third Of Europe's Surface Waters Are Healthy
Taiwan Records Unprecedented Chinese Military Activity Post-Drills
Israel Vows to Limit Retaliatory Strike on Iran to Military Facilities
Four Killed in Tesla Electric Car Fire in France
Man with Weapons Arrested Near Trump Rally in California
How Ego and Pettiness are Sinking the UK Economy
China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan: A Strategic Warning
Tech Boosts Singapore’s Economy to 4.1% Growth in Q3
US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System to Israel
DNA Evidence Suggests Christopher Columbus Was a Sephardic Jew
Rise in Self-Diagnosed ADHD Among Adults
Noel Tata Appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts Following Ratan Tata's Passing
Keir Starmer Reflects on His First 100 Days as Prime Minister
UK Investigates Firms for Alleged Russian Oil Sanctions Breaches
Keir Starmer's First 100 Days: Achievements and Challenges
Exposing Mohamed Al Fayed: A Personal Battle
Tesla's Robotaxi Design Strikes Controversy
Tragedy Strikes MSC Virtuosa Near Channel Islands
Scottish DJ Jackmaster Dies After Head Injury in Ibiza
Alex Salmond: A Political Life of Contrasts and Influence
Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond Dies
North Korea Accuses South Korea of Drone Leaflet Campaign
Poll Shows Trump Favored Over Harris in Handling Wars
Boeing to Reduce Workforce by 10% Amid Financial Strain
Prospect of UK Rejoining the EU Discussed by Peter Mandelson
UK Businesses Halt Hiring Due to Budget Speculations
Council of Nations Aims to Revitalize UK Power-Sharing
Starmer Criticizes Minister's P&O Ferries Boycott Call
BBC Initiates Review to Counteract Workplace Power Abuses
Key Insights from Post Office Chief Nick Read's Horizon IT Inquiry Testimony
Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick: Perspectives in Tory Leadership Race
Cocaine Smuggling Operation in Banana Shipment Foiled by UK Authorities
Police Investigate 40 New Allegations Against Mohamed Al Fayed
Government Navigates Dispute Over DP World's £1bn London Port Expansion
Historic Floods Reshape Sahara Desert Landscape
Noel Tata Appointed Chairman of Tata Trusts
Brazilian Man Arrested for Decades-long Abuse and Imprisonment of Family
×