‘Please, change your Your policy may have
HUDDERSFIELD MP URGES GOVERNMENT TO THINK AGAIN AFTER BORIS ANNOUNCES RETURN TO TIER SYSTEM
HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman has begged Boris Johnson to change his mind over his decision to revert back to the system of localised restrictions, saying it will have “tragic results” for his constituents.
The Labour MP responded to the Prime Minister’s statement earlier today in which he confirmed that the national lockdown will be replaced by a tougher three tier system once it ends on December 2.
Addressing health secretary Matt Hancock, Mr Sheerman, who has been a vocal critic of the localised set of restrictions, said: “Can I beg him at this late stage to change his mind?
“This is a national emergency and his policy announced today will end up with critical, and perhaps tragic, results for my constituents and the country.
“The fact of the matter is that as soon as we go into a tier system - and I represent Huddersfield in Kirklees which is a classic, average, typical town in Britain - we’ve worked better and harder than anyone else to get rates down and we have not been successful.
“Under a national plan, we have started to get there. We’ve only got to keep ourselves going under restrictions for a few more weeks and we will have the antidotes.
“Please change your mind, minister, change your mind Prime Minister
- we must stop deaths occurring that could be avoided.”
Health secretary Matt Hancock replied: “The tiered system that’s been set out by the Prime Minister today is calibrated very carefully, learning all of the lessons from the lockdowns that have been in place and also the previous tiered system, and evidence from around the world and indeed from the devolved nations, to be calibrated to be able to bring infections down - but do so in a way that also protects the other things that matter in life as much as possible.
“It is necessary that this Tier 3 in particular is tougher than the previous - not least because of the experience of Huddersfield and Kirklees and other places ... that saw a flattening rather than a reduction in their rates.
“That’s why we brought in a tougher Tier 3, but it nevertheless does allow for the opening of religious settings and of non-essential retail, which I know is so important for many.”
The Prime Minister confirmed that the system of three tiers that was in place before the November lockdown will come back into force from December 2, when the Englandwide shutdown will end, but with some differences.
Addressing MPs by virtual video link, Boris Johnson said that while breakthroughs in vaccines, treatment and testing meant the “scientific cavalry was now in sight”, the “hard truth...is that we are not there yet”.
He said a return to “tougher” regional tiers was needed to stop the virus spreading out of control and “squandering our hard-won gains”.
In Tier 1, people will be told to work from home wherever possible, while in Tier 2, alcohol may only be served in hospitality settings with a substantial meal.
In Tier 3, indoor entertainment, hotels and other accommodation be