By Tony O’Riley-
Boris Johnson warned Mps across the Uk that immediate action to prevent any further spread of Covid-19 was necessary and that further delay would be unforgivable.
The PM gave the serious warning after he abandoned plans to place Manchester, other parts of the North West, the North East plus Yorkshire into Tier Three. He was responding to the strong objections by local leaders over proposals for strong restrictions.
Newcastle escaped the harshest measures at the last minute after threatening legal action against any plans to subject its hospitality sector to a complete lockdown, despite the prime minister’s bail out package to help affected areas cope.
Boris Johnson, who is doing everything in his power to bring the virus under control, urged local leaders to get on board, or have measures foisted on them from Westminster in the coming days, as he unveiled a billion-pound bail out package for affected councils.
Me. Johnson said: “We’re still working with other local leaders to determine how best to tackle the resurgence of the virus in their areas but tackle it we will.” Mr Johnson warned MPs any further delay would be “unforgivable”, in the wake of news that another 50 people had died of the coronavirus.
He added: “If we can’t get agreement, then clearly it is the duty of a national government to take the necessary action to protect the public and public health, and we will.”
Speaking from No 10 later last night, the PM insisted he was taking a “balanced approach” between avoiding a second nationwide lockdown and letting the virus “rip”.
Johnson said he hopes there won’t be anything like a second national lockdown and if these new measures are properly implemented they can get the R down.
There’s a need for balance as a second national lockdown would do a lot of immediate harm right now, he added.
Professor Whitty appeared to give Councils authority to impose further restrictions if necessary, as he said he’s not confident that tier 3 at the base case would be enough alone, which is why local authorities will have the flexibility to bring in additional things within that.
”These measures only work if everybody buys into them and does their bit.., Whitty said.