Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has urged the Culture Secretary to provide clinical justification for the decision to limit amateur singing groups to just six people indoors.
Mr Morgan has written to Oliver Dowden following confusion around the restrictions on choral singing in the City and across the country.
Following the easing of restrictions on 17 May, government guidance was updated to clarify that only six amateur singers can meet indoors, while there is no limit on the number of professional singers.
In the letter, Mr Morgan calls out the “double standard” between amateur and professional singers and highlighted a number of much larger performing arts events, including the Brit Awards, that had been allowed to take place safely.
The letter concludes: “I urge you to publish the clinical evidence underpinning the decision to prevent amateur choral singing in groups of more than six people under covid-19 restrictions, and what plans you have to review this.”
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“Portsmouth choral singers are understandably keen to return to practice and performance at venues across the City, including our magnificent Cathedrals.
“But new guidelines have created a double standard which does not seem to be backed up by clinical evidence. It’s causing confusion and consternation for our singers.
“I have urged the Culture Secretary to provide the clinical evidence underpinning this decision and hope that larger groups of non-professional singers will be allowed to gather as soon as it is safe to do so.”
