In Parliament this evening, I voted against the government’s new tiered restrictions.
I thought it would be appropriate to set out my reasons for why I took this stance.
In July, our community entered local restrictions, alongside much of the rest of West Yorkshire. This of course followed the first National Lockdown.
In July, our cases per 100,000 stood at 47. We have seen cases peak just below 500, but today that figure stands at well over 200.
I have spent much of the last few days talking to many local residents and businesses from across the whole constituency.
Many are frustrated with the current situation and it is clear that many of our local independent businesses are struggling.
Every business sector has felt the pain of this pandemic, but it is clear that certain sectors have been harder hit than others.
Over the last four months, these restrictions have absolutely battered our hospitality industry. People and businesses have been suffering and for many it feels there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
We are of course living in the midst of a pandemic, and I therefore do believe that having restrictions in place is necessary to keep this virus under control.
And a tiered approach is the right one, providing it is geographically localised. It doesn’t make sense to lock down part of the country where there are little or no coronavirus.
Having spoken to dozens of local businesses over the past few days, from all sectors of the economy, it is clear that many are suffering.
The strong message I am getting is with us now entering a tougher Tier 3, much of the hospitality sector locally feels cheated.
Many have spent the last four weeks preparing, ordering stock, and taking bookings for the Christmas period.
Now, they’ve been told they have to stay closed under the new – beefed up and strengthened Tier 3.
If the government is going to force businesses to close indefinitely, further financial support must be made available.
I pleased the government has extended the Furlough scheme to protect people’s jobs and incomes, but the grants made available for these latest restrictions simply do not go far enough.
The maximum grant of £3,000 for business properties amounts to a single night’s taking over the busy Christmas period for many of our hospitality businesses.
It is because of the lack of financial support made available, that I, with regret, voted against the government tonight.
NEXT STEPS
Unsurprisingly, as the Labour Party abstained, the vote in Parliament passed tonight. This means we will now move to Tiered Restrictions from tomorrow.
The Bradford District will enter Tier 3. This will be far short of the full National Restrictions we have all been living under for the last few months, but we will be living under enhanced restrictions compared to many other parts of the country.
· You can leave home for any reason, and meet up with up to six people in outdoor public spaces, such as parks, beaches and public gardens.
· All non-essential shops can re-open.
· Indoor leisure – such as gyms – can re-open.
· Personal care – including the hair and beauty sector – can re-open.
· Places of worship can re-open.
However, some businesses and activities will not be able to open and take place:
· Pubs, bars and restaurants will remain closed, with the exception of takeaway and delivery.
· Group activities cannot take place in indoor leisure.
· Hotels and self-catered accommodation will remain close, except for those travelling for work.
· Wedding receptions cannot take place, though weddings are permitted.
· Indoor entertainment venues will remain closed.
For further detail on the Tier 3 restrictions, please click here; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-kn…
THE FUTURE
Going forward, I will be doing all I can to try and ensure we move to at least Tier 2. If infection rates continue to fall at the rate they currently are, this is a realistic prospect.
I will continue to push for more financial support for businesses that are forced to close by the government. Local small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we must do all we can to protect them.
As we are now a Tier 3 area, the Bradford District will now be eligible for mass community testing. This means that everyone across the district will be eligible for testing over a six-week period to find and isolate those who are asymptomatic.
Given the number of areas that now find themselves in Tier 3, there will clearly be significant demand for community testing, and the government will have to prioritise certain areas over others.
I have already asked the Prime Minister to ensure that areas which have been living under local restrictions the longest – including Keighley and Ilkley – to be prioritised for this community testing.
This is only fair and will give us a realistic prospect of moving to Tier 2 within the next few weeks. The results of a Community Testing trial in Liverpool have been extremely successful, with cases falling by 75% in the city. I hope we can see the same level of success here in Keighley and Ilkley.
Secondly, I want to talk about vaccines.
There have been huge medical breakthroughs in our fight against the coronavirus over recent weeks, including a vaccine from Oxford University, which could be available before the end of the year.
Vaccinating the vulnerable and key front-line workers – no matter where in country they live – must be our number one priority.
However, vaccinating the whole population will be necessary to allow us to unlock, and return to a more normal way of live. But I believe this should be done in a Tiered approach.
Areas which have been living under local restrictions the longest must be prioritised for the wider rollout of the vaccine. This would allow us to open up again sooner than other parts of the country, and make up for lost time as a result of the local restrictions that have been imposed on us for so long.
Decisions of this magnitude are never easy. I believe I did what was right for businesses, jobs and people across Keighley and Ilkley tonight – and I will always continue to do that.
As ever, if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Robbie
