THE Mayor of West Yorkshire has called for urgent clarification from the government after Kirklees was named one of eight places across the country where people are being urged against all but essential travel in and out of the area.

Speaking this lunchtime, Tracy Brabin hosted a press conference calling for the government to explain their decision to ‘slip’ the decision to put Kirklees on the list last Friday night as ‘not good enough’. Latest figures show it has the fourth highest infection rate in the country, behind Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen and Bedford.

The other areas identified are: Bedford Borough Council; Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council; Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council; Burnley Borough Council; Leicester City Council; London Borough of Hounslow; North Tyneside Council.

People in the eight areas should also be tested twice a week, according to the Government advice.

Ms Brabin said: “I’d hoped the government had learned lessons from this pandemic and the need to work in partnership with local areas to give communities clarity of what we need to do, why they have been asked to do it and how they will be supported.

“Updated guidance slipped out on a Friday tea time on a government website, is frankly not good enough.

”It shouldn’t have to do this to drag government ministers to the house to explain their actions.

“This is people’s lives and livelihoods.

“These areas have been under restrictions for over a year.

“I was able to speak to (Vaccine Minister) Nadhim Zahawi and grateful that he apologised.

“I’m seeking urgent clarification from Government. What is the criteria for these restrictions and what is the roadmap out of them.

“Having your vaccine is the best way to protect your loved ones.”