Man sets up £6 business to employ family and avoid “rule of six”

ByMichael Walters

Oct 30, 2020 global247news, Man sets up £6 business to employ family and avoid "rule of six"

A man has paid just £6 to set up his own business and employ members of his family which means that he has avoided the “rule of six” restrictions in place at the moment.

With the consultancy business that Fenn Settle, 28, has set up he can exploit the rules and is allowed gatherings of more than six as it is a place of work.

This is just the latest in a series of loopholes in the system after it emerged that business lunches are also not included in the maximum number of six people allowed to be together indoors.

On Thursday it also came to light that members clubs may not need to serve a “substantial meal” to allow alcohol consumption due to the wording of their premises licence.

Mr Settle, from Shipley, West Yorkshire, said that his idea of setting up a company came about as he was not allowed to see his grandfather, Peter WIlliams, for 2 months before his death.

He passed away at the age of 84. He has now registered his company, Fenn Settle Ltd, with Companies House and is allowed to hire family members and friends on a zero hour contract and also invite them into his house for “work gatherings” similar to board meetings. They would all then be exempt from the restrictions.

He took to social media to tell the Government that it was “checkmate” and that “the joke is on you”. He told The Telegraph in an interview that “I’m in no way, shape or form mocking Covid.

I just think it’s ludicrous people are missing Christmas with family members, yet it’s totally acceptable for people to have spent time with work colleagues who could have been God knows where in the last week.” In reply, a Government spokesman said “The Prime Minister has been clear of his ambition to ensure that people may celebrate Christmas as a family this year. Our best chance of defeating the virus and getting back to some sort of normal is for everyone to act responsibly, continue to do their bit and follow the guidance. We have been clear this means individuals from different households currently cannot meet indoors in those areas under Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions.”