MPs in call to ease local lockdowns
Pressure for more ‘granular approach’ to rules in areas less affected by virus
CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS in West Yorkshire could be more targeted and focused on smaller areas after a review is held into the rules tomorrow.
Bradford, Calderdale, and Kirklees have been subject to more stringent restrictions than the majority of the rest of the county since the beginning on the month, after concern over rising cases in those areas.
But MPs have called for a more granular approach to implementing the so-called local lockdowns, and decisions will now be made after input from local politicians.
It could mean areas such Cleckheaton, Liversedge or Heckmondwike town, where there were no new cases of coronavirus recorded in the week commencing August 10, could be freed from restrictions while other areas of the district remain under them.
The next announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on restrictions is due to take place after a meeting tomorrow of the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty.
Local councils and MPs are expected to make their recommendations to the JBC by today over where, if any, restrictions should be imposed in their local areas.
Conservative MPs Jason McCartney (Colne Valley), Philip Davies (Shipley), Robbie Moore (Keighley), Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) and Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) all previously lobbied Mr Hancock to allow some parts of their patches to come out of the restrictions.
And Labour’s MP for Batley and Spen Tracy Brabin said yesterday that the Government should lift its “crude” lockdown in Kirklees in favour of a more localised approach.
She said it “doesn’t make sense” to apply the same blanket restrictions to areas in the borough where there are very few cases.
Ms Brabin spoke out after fellow Kirklees MPs Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) and Mark Eastwood (Dewsbury) put pressure on Labour-led Kirklees Council to adopt a postcode level approach to local restrictions. With “very low numbers” of Covid-19 patients across Batley and Spen Ms Brabin said the Government should target its restrictions where they are needed most.
She said: “The Government needs to listen to local voices here in Kirklees who are telling them that a crude lockdown is not beneficial for our community, and instead implement a localised approach to Covid restrictions.
“Thanks to everyone following the guidelines we currently have very low numbers of Covid-19 patients and deaths across Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust Hospitals in recent weeks, and Kirklees Council data is showing that Batley and Spen currently has a very low number of new cases.
“I hope the Government recognises this so that parts of my constituency can see the restrictions lifted later this week.”
Mr McCartney and Mr Eastwood have said a consensus between MPs and Kirklees Council is vital if recommendations are to be put to the JBC.
It comes as a further 16 people died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of yesterday, an increase taking the total to 41,449. In Yorkshire, one further death was recorded, bring the total to at least 2,916.
Leader of Kirklees Council, Shabir Pandor, said he was aiming to come to a consensus over which places should still be under restrictions, and would work with opposition leaders.
Last week Mr Hancock said: “Our approach is to make the action we take as targeted as possible, with the maximum possible local consensus. To do that we are introducing a new process to increase engagement between local leaders, both councils and MPs, with the aim of taking as targeted action as possible.
“This will allow local councils to focus resources onto the wards which need more targeted intervention in order to drive infection rates down, and gives local people a stronger voice at the table.”
The Government needs to listen to local voices. Tracy Brabin, Labour MP for Batley and Spen.