Hair and beauty industry slams “shambolic” NI lockdown legislation

The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) has slammed the Northern Ireland Executive’s shambolic “shambolic decision making,” as salons and stores brace for yet another “circuit-breaker lockdown” this Friday (27 November).

The two-week lockdown, which is set to begin just after midnight on 27 November 2020, comes just a week after many businesses were allowed to re-open on Friday 20 November, following a previous circuit break.

The latest round of restrictions, which have dealt a “huge blow” to the hair and beauty sector in Northern Ireland according to the NHBF, will cover two weeks from 27 November until 11 December 2020.

The NHBF is now calling for urgent clarification on what financial support will be available to the sector and how it will be given.

NHBF chief executive Richard Lambert said: “No one wants to be closed a moment longer than necessary, but the growing sense of indecision and about-turns helps no one and is destroying confidence in the Executive.

“What businesses need from government right now is clear thinking, consistent decision-making and the common sense to confirm financial supports alongside any further restrictions. What we’ve got is the Stormont version of the hokey-cokey.”

“It’s almost inevitable that hair and beauty salons will want cram as much business as they can into the next week, so it’s vital that they remember to #DoItRight to keep themselves, the staff and their clients safe.”

In England, non-essential retail is set to get the go-ahead to re-open from 2 December with new stricter tiers of restriction in place.