Clarify which businesses were mandated to close during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Rejected 12 signatures

What the petition asks

Estate Agents, Recruiters, Language Schools, and many more firms believed they had been instructed to close by Gov UK during TV broadcasts, and suffered substantial losses as a result. But, Insurers are denying such firms had to close and refusing to honour their claims. Gov UK must provide clarity.

Insurance companies are refusing to honour business interruption claims based on an interpretation of the “letter” of the government’s mandated closures, rather than its “spirit” or intent. Most reasonable people would agree that an estate agent was an example of non-essential retail which was mandated to close. However, the insurance companies argue otherwise, and claim such businesses should have remained open. Government must clarify its advice to end the scandal of illegally denied claims.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.

The Government was responsible for the regulations that set out which businesses were required to close during the pandemic. Interpretation of the law, including resolving disputes about whether particular businesses were required to close as a result of these regulations, are a matter for the courts, not the Government or Parliament.

Timeline

16 Feb 2023	Petition opened for signatures
20 Feb 2023	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 12

Status Rejected

Rejected 20 Feb 2023

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