Inverness MP Drew Hendry brands Matalan reopening as selfishly irresponsible
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Inverness MP Drew Hendry has challenged retail chain Matalan to tell him its plan for protecting staff and customers after it reopened its city outlet this morning.
The SNP politician took to Twitter to blast the company with: "I can think of no reasonable excuse for Matalan to be reopening their store in Inverness ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased. I will try again to contact their management but this looks and feels selfishly irresponsible."
The outlet at Inshes Retail Park – where several other businesses are operating including Tesco, Macdonald's and Dunelm – has been temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesman for the firm told Mr Hendry: "As per May 1, the government changed the exception list of retailers who are deemed ‘essential retailers’ with homeware retailers being included. Matalan is a clothing and homeware retailer and are therefore allowed to legally open following government guidance."
Mr Hendry responded by asking which parts of the store were open and what plan it had for protecting employees and customers.
Related article: Matalan reopens in Inverness
