Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has called for Government clarity for couples who have had weddings affected by Coronavirus in a debate held in Parliament.

Weddings are currently banned under the national lockdown rules and will likely be again subject to strict limits on guest numbers and enforcement of social distancing when they resume.

The debate was scheduled by Parliament’s Petitions Committee, which Catherine chairs, after a petition on weddings reached over 100,000 signatures.

Speaking after the debate Catherine said:

“Since lockdown began, I have been contacted by constituents who feel left in a state of limbo due to the restrictions on weddings. They don’t know if their big day will go ahead at all, or, if it does, whether it will be anything like they hoped it would be.

“Throughout the year couples have had to make difficult decisions on whether to go ahead despite the restrictions, try to reschedule, or wait and see if things improve. All the while, venues are increasingly booked up to the end of next year and beyond – many popular venues in the North East announced some time ago that they no longer had any 2021 dates.”

“When the current ban on weddings ends, this will again become much more of a grey area.  We really need much clearer guidance from the Government, to end the agonising uncertainty for these couples.”

Listen to Catherine’s contribution here: