European Commision pushes for end to blanket ban on UK travel

The European Commission called for an end to blanket bans on travel to and from the UK on Tuesday in order to accommodate the resumption of "essential" movement.

The EC applauded the "swift temporary precautionary action" taken to close borders to the UK but highlighted that "flight and train bans should be discontinued" due to the need to ensure essential travel in and out of Britain and avoid supply chain disruptions.

However, the EC's statement emphasised that "non-essential travel" to and from the UK was still "discouraged", meaning that holidays and leisure travel between the two was still unlikely to be on the cards any time soon.

The EC also stated that free movement rules still apply to the UK "until the end of December", meaning that member states should not be denying entry to individuals travelling from the UK, in principle.

Over 50 countries have banned travel from Britain, including the overwhelming majority of the 27 European Union member states.