"It increasingly feels like the Prime Minister is several steps behind the curve and running to catch up with the virus that he has lost control of long ago..." Kier Starmer
This afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out his latest plan to try and stop the unfettered spread of coronavirus in England, creating three Tiers of restrictions – Tier 1 – Medium; Tier 2 – High; and Tier 3 – Very High.
Salford and Greater Manchester are in Tier 2, which more or less means that restrictions don't change, with the welcome exception that people can now meet in private gardens in groups of six or less. Household mixing is still banned indoors and pubs will still shut at 10pm.
Although the full details and financial packages available to people are still to be debated and voted on in the House of Commons tomorrow (to come into force on Wednesday), Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, generally welcomed the move, tweeting "This is the right decision and we're glad the Government has listened. But any restrictions will lead to loss of trade for businesses and challenges for councils. The PM must give all areas under restrictions full financial support. Anything less will see them levelled down."
So far, there has been no reaction from either the Salford City Mayor, nor any of the three Salford MPs.
Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Boris Johnson said that restrictions currently in place are suppressing the R rate below its natural level of three "which is why the virus is not spreading as quickly as it did in March – but we need to go further."
He acknowledged that the Government's approach had produced different rules in different parts of the country that are now "complex to understand and to enforce".
He explained that the rules for the Tier 2 are aimed at reducing high household transmissions, and that "Engagement with other leaders in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber is continuing.
"I know how difficult this is" Johnson added "They, like everyone in the House, are grappling with very real dilemmas - but we cannot let the NHS fall over when lives are at stake. So let me repeat the offer that we are making to those local authorities – work with us on these difficult but necessary measures in the areas that are rated very high areas, in return for: more support for local test and trace; more funding for local enforcement; the offer of help from the armed services the job support scheme as announced by the Chancellor. I believe not to act would be unforgivable, so I hope that rapid progress can be made in the coming days..."
In response, Keir Starmer Labour Party Leader, acknowledged that the country is in a "critical moment", with more patients in hospital today than when the country went into lockdown on 23rd March.
"Nobody should be under any illusion about where this is heading or for the need for decisive action" he added "The question today is whether the restrictions announced by the Prime Minister can bring the country back from the brink, whether they can regain control of the virus and provide the support and confidence that local businesses and communities need. That's how high the stakes now are..."
He then added that he was now "deeply sceptical that the Government has actually got a plan to get control of this virus, to protect jobs or regain public trust. We tried to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt but it increasingly feels like the Prime Minister is several steps behind the curve and running to catch up with the virus that he has lost control of long ago."
He explained that Johnson had said three weeks ago that his new 'rule of six' restrictions would curb the infections but "that hasn't happened...those measures have not worked...Twenty areas have now been in restrictions for two months and 19 have seen their infection rates rise, some by very large amounts."
He criticised Johnson's "serial failure"; that the 'whackamole' strategy and the claim to have a 'world beating test and trace system', combined with constant leaks and press briefings have "fatally eroded public confidence just when we need it most"...
Starmer called for test and isolate to be handed over to local authority control and for local leaders to be fully involved in any future decisions.
"The worst thing the Prime Minister can do is not act quickly and decisively enough" he concluded "Or to keep coming back to this House every couple of weeks with a new plan that doesn't work and isn't up to the scale of the task. We need to break that cycle, finally get on top of the virus, rebuild public confidence. I hope the measures announced today will do so but the House and the country will be deeply sceptical whether they can..."
More details to follow as they are announced...
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