Kirklees deserve better than lockdown incompetence of Ministers – The Yorkshire Post says

THE word ‘incompetence’ barely does justice to the Government’s abject lack of communication over new Covid rules for Kirklees – and a handful of other areas that have witnessed an increase in cases linked to the so-called Indian Variant.
By YP Comment
Published 25th May 2021, 16:44 BST
Updated 25th May 2021, 16:45 BST
New public health rules have been introduced in Huddersfield and Kirklees.New public health rules have been introduced in Huddersfield and Kirklees.
New public health rules have been introduced in Huddersfield and Kirklees.

Not only was West Yorkshire’s new metro mayor Tracy Brabin, Kirklees Council leader Shabir Pandor, MPs and public health directors not consulted but they – just like everyone else – only learned about the new restrictions when the Government’s website was updated.

If the latest measures are so essential, why did Ministers sneak them out in such a cackhanded manner? For Dr Thérèse Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, to then say that this is merely about formalising guidance is disingenuous when insufficient financial support from her department for people required to self-isolate has undermined lockdowns.

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Her glib, condescending and blasé words are, frankly, typical of a London Government that pays ‘lip service’ to mayors and wider devolution. The fact that just eight local authorities are affected, according to the Government, makes it even more inexcusable that Ministers did not brief local leaders in advance.

Coronavirus signage in Bolton town centre, one of the areas of the UK where the Covid variant first identified in India is spreading fastest. The Government has advised against all but essential travel and meeting indoors in eight areas of England where the variant is spreading fastest - Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, North Tyneside, Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees and the London borough of Hounslow.Coronavirus signage in Bolton town centre, one of the areas of the UK where the Covid variant first identified in India is spreading fastest. The Government has advised against all but essential travel and meeting indoors in eight areas of England where the variant is spreading fastest - Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, North Tyneside, Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees and the London borough of Hounslow.
Coronavirus signage in Bolton town centre, one of the areas of the UK where the Covid variant first identified in India is spreading fastest. The Government has advised against all but essential travel and meeting indoors in eight areas of England where the variant is spreading fastest - Bedford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, North Tyneside, Bolton, Leicester, Kirklees and the London borough of Hounslow.

Not only would this have been courteous but a more collaborative approach – people are being urged not to travel in or out of Kirklees or meet indoors – could have avoided much of the prevailing confusion.

After all, the eight areas in question all have diverse multi-racial communities where families, particularly from BAME backgrounds, have been reluctant to be inoculated. They need reassurance – and this can only come from local community leaders rather than out-of-touch Ministers.

In a Commons statement, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said the Government will look to communicate “more effectively”. Frankly, it can’t get any worse than this very avoidable shambles.

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