France blasts ‘political’ UK travel rules ahead of review

The French government redoubled its efforts to get the UK to reverse Covid-19 restrictions on visitors from France, ahead of a British reassessment of those rules later this week. French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said the UK’s policy announced last month requiring travelers from France to isolate for up to 10 days and take two tests is based on questionable science. The requirement was dropped for most European countries starting this week. While Djebbari urged the government to reverse course quickly, UK PM Boris Johnson refrained from offering much hope. “What I want to see is something as simple and as user-friendly for people as possible,” Johnson said Monday when asked about the likelihood of changes to UK rules this week. The dispute comes as relations between the UK and the EU remain difficult. Last month, the UK demanded a renegotiation to the Brexit deal governing Northern Ireland -- something the bloc has refused. Conflicts have also cropped up with France over how to deal with migrants and fishing rights. “I hope this week during their weekly review there will be a positive change,” Djebbari told CNews TV station on Monday, in a reference to a possible assessment of UK rules on Thursday. He said he’s been talking with his UK counterpart Grant Shapps every week.<br/>