WEST Yorkshire MPs have today met with England's medical officials via conference call to discuss the current Coronavirus situation in the county.

The meeting came as meetings have been taking place between local leaders and the Government regarding potentially moving the area into the strictest Tier 3 restrictions.

The local leaders' meeting with Government yesterday was the first in more than a week to discuss the current situation in West Yorkshire, the Telegraph & Argus understands.

After that meeting, local leaders said they were "committed to implementing the most effective measures to protect the people and economy of West Yorkshire".

Following today's meeting between MPs and officials, including social care minister Helen Whately, Shipley MP Philip Davies has shared his thoughts on what was discussed and the possibility of moving into Tier 3 lockdown.

He said: "The question I keep asking is how many people's jobs are they willing to sacrifice in our area to pursue this agenda?

"And it is other people's jobs, not theirs. None of these people are willing to sacrifice their jobs - just other people's - and to me that is unacceptable.

"How many jobs lost is it worth to pursue this? We're in danger of the cure becoming worse than the virus itself.

"If we are moved into Tier 3 it would be terrible and outrageous. I am worried about people's jobs and businesses and houses being repossessed further down the line.

"Moving into Tier 3 will only do one thing; further collapse the future economy and I cannot support that.

"Lockdown does not save lives, SAGE (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) have been clear on this. It doesn't save lives it just spreads them out over a longer period of time.

"The mortality rate of Covid-19 is only 0.7 per cent, even if you lived to the nation's life expectancy age and catch it you still have a 90 per cent chance of survival. You have more chance of dying on our roads, and to suggest banning all cars would sound ridiculous.

"No one is focusing on the health damages that collapsing the economy would have with regards to mental health problems and suicide rates. We have to take a proportionate approach."