BATLEY & Spen MP Tracy Brabin has called for no Tier 3 without clear indication of how West Yorkshire would leave the highest level of restrictions and without support for a local track and trace system.

After speaking with Government and the cross-party Kirklees Outbreak Control Board, Ms Brabin said: “We cannot be pushed into Tier 3 without transparency from the government on how they are assessing areas going into Tier 3, and what steps need to be taken to be moved out of Tier 3.”

“I am concerned that the imposition of Tier 3 restriction will have negative effects on the local economy and the mental health of local people, especially as there is no clear evidence that this approach works.

“In Kirklees, a huge amount of resources has been placed on following Tier 2 and similar restrictions for months. That hard work has led to Kirklees having the lowest number of Covid-19 cases, but cases as still rising, so this piecemeal approach clearly isn’t working.”

"If the government is serious about combatting this virus, it should follow the science and SAGE advice and impose a nationwide circuit breaker lockdown.”.