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Today there is “shock and surprise” in Bradford after district officials were told to “engage in talks” about the possibility of entering the highest level of the Government’s new three-tier lockdown system.
More areas in the north could move to Level 3 lockdown restrictions as negotiations with local leaders continue, Downing Street has said.
Bradford is currently at Level 2, but a move to the third level would see tougher restrictions, including pub closures, unless they can operate as a restaurant.
News of Bradford’s possible situation emerged during a debate on coronavirus restrictions in Parliament last night.
Bradford West MP Naz Shah told the House of Commons: “My constituency has been under what are now known as Level 2 restrictions for 75 days.
“Last night, public health authorities and the local authority were told that we should now enter into discussions to consider moving to the highest level. That shocked me a lot, because it was not what they told me in the calls with the Secretary of State yesterday or in any other call. It has also been a surprise to the people of Bradford.
“I ask the minister directly: how do you expect people to survive in a constituency like Bradford West, which has increasing rates of child deprivation and is currently under additional restrictions, if its workplaces were to close? Don’t he and the government see how the lack of adequate support coupled with these restrictions, rather than preventing an increase in child poverty, will lead to an increase in child poverty in districts like mine? For these measures to be effective, support must be adequate. Therefore, I ask that you speak with the Chancellor and consider additional financial support for constituencies like mine. I know that this Government may not have the political will to try to reduce deprivation for children in districts like mine, but I sincerely hope that they have the moral will to do so.
“When history judges how we responded to this pandemic, social networks have many memes that provide very good diagrams of what the government’s U-turns have been, from” hitting a mole “to” hitting the world “and all these” moonshot theories ”. But in reality, the real test will be: how will our next generation make its way? Will your education be correct? Will they be the next generation of poverty, even after 10 years of austerity and 10 years of this government? What will the life of my children and the children of the future be like? That will be the real test, so that is the responsibility that the Government must assume today. ”
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