Sir Peter Soulsby
Leicester could spend a further two weeks in lockdown after a surge in Covid-19.
It is suggested the city does not re-open its pubs and hotels on July 4th.
However, the proposed move has angered Leicester’s Labour Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby.
Sir Peter told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme:
“Frankly, it’s been intensely frustrating.
“It was only last Thursday that we finally got some of the data we need but we’re still not getting all of it and it was only at 1.04am that the recommendations for Leicester arrived in my inbox.
“What they’re suggesting is not a return to lockdown, it seems that what they’re suggesting is that we continue the present level of restriction for a further two weeks beyond July 4.
“I’ve looked at this report and frankly it’s obviously been cobbled together very hastily.
“It’s superficial and its description of Leicester is inaccurate and certainly it does not provide us with the information we need if we are to remain restricted for two weeks longer than the rest of the country.”
Claudia Webbe, MP Leicester East
Claudia Webbe, Labour MP for Leicester East, Claudia believes a local lockdown is necessary where 866 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the past two weeks.
Ms Webbe cites her constituency as having “significant levels of African and Asian minority ethnic communities” and “significant levels of poverty”.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: “There are significant worries and significant problems in terms of inequalities and high levels of poverty that I’m concerned about.
“That is the context in which this Covid-19 is operating in.
“So I’m very concerned, and I really do believe that where the data allows we need to ensure that we engage in processes to protect lives, and I think we need to go into therefore more localised lockdown to protect lives and ensure that we can address this virus.
“The Government hasn’t reassured us.
“Thus far, the messages and the communication from the Government have been unclear, and it has been difficult, and I really don’t understand what communities are meant to follow.”
