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Fellow conservatives urged West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to stop criticizing the government when he lobbied the chancellor to provide more support for struggling businesses.
Street told Sky News that members of his party asked him to keep quiet despite their concerns that COVID-19 level 2 restrictions it would endanger businesses, and he said the government was “trying to catch up.”
“I’ll be honest with you and say that there were some in the Conservative Party who said that you shouldn’t criticize your own government,” he said.
“But my driving force is really very clear. This is what the companies in this region needed, and I was determined to fight for them and I have done it, hopefully with the support of all the parties in the region and, most of all, importantly, the support of the region’s sector, and it is that unity that I think has helped us. “
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Mr. Street was one of several regional mayors who expressed concern about the chilling impact Level 2 would have on pubs, bars and restaurants.
Despite being able to stay open, the restriction of households mixing within hospitality venues has depressed demand to the point that many venues said they would prefer to be closed at Level 3, where they were eligible for financial support.
Almost two weeks after the introduction of the tier system, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced greater support for companies in all sectors.
The revised Work Support Plan, which will replace leave next month, has become more generous, as employees must work only 20% of the hours and receive two-thirds of their wages, and employers pay only 5% .
The Labor Support Plan is still less generous than the leave of absence, but the chancellor hopes it will curb an expected wave of unemployment.
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Critics say the government only acted when Level 2 restrictions reached the West Midlands and London, contrasting the action with protracted and contentious negotiations with Greater Manchester Labor Mayor Andy Burnham on support to enter Level 3.
Street said the events had forced the government’s hand and suggested that they had not anticipated the dramatic impact of Level 2 on consumer demand.
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“I think it’s about how fast this situation is moving,” he said.
“When the Chancellor stood up a few weeks ago and spoke about his winter economic plan, no one expected the virus level to be the way it is, the Level 2 restrictions to be the way they are, so I think this is about, in essence, you are trying to catch up, but at least they responded quickly, and have listened to the argument being made.
“They were very focused on, if we have to close, then they had an answer there, but they hadn’t thought about this two weeks ago, let’s call it mid-tier, some of the hospitality businesses said it’s the worst of all worlds.” , and I really get it.
“That’s why we were quick to argue the case and, to be fair, it has been a matter of days that it has taken them to respond.
“Of course, we have also said, if the situation has not improved after Christmas, we will need more extensions, we have to think about the VAT extension. We have to keep thinking about commercial rates, but as happened today, I think it is very, very meaningful and certainly welcome. “
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Cases continue to rise in the West Midlands, but the mayor said it was not “inevitable” that the region would enter Level 3 if people follow current restrictions.
“I don’t think it’s inevitable. No, that’s too difficult, but we have to be honest, it could happen,” he said.
“To be really clear, there are no discussions yet about the previous move of parts of the West Midlands to Level 3, but the numbers are still increasing here steadily, slower than in many other parts of the country, but if we don’t change that increase, then we will end with a discussion on Level 3, so it is in everyone’s interest in the West Midlands to follow the rules and make sure we stay where we are. “
