‘Get a grip’ Liberal Democrats tell Government and Newcastle Council leaders amid the latest Coronavirus restrictions

The Government and the North East's Councils aren't speaking with one voice on local lockdown measures. New Government decrees are being issued by Twitter like a cut-price Trump, without prior discussion. And it now seems that Labour's MPs and local Council leaders aren't singing from the same hymn sheet either.

"This is not the way to get a grip," says Cllr Nick Cott on behalf of Newcastle's Opposition Liberal Democrats councillors.

This follows Health Secretary Matt Hancock's announcement that the region will be subject to even tougher restrictions than those already imposed less than two weeks ago. Infection rates have risen to over 238 cases per 100,000 in the City.

Liberal Democrat councillors had been concerned that lockdown measures did not go far enough although they have cautiously welcomed the Government intervention in taking a tougher stance. The new measures will mean that people from different households will be banned under law from mixing indoors in any setting, including pubs or restaurants, and will face fines for doing so.

There remains concern that the measures imposed will not address the problem of interactions in bars and restaurants. Liberal Democrats have previously stated the furlough policy should have been extended to help out the hospitality sector, so that access to bars could be further restricted for a short period if absolutely necessary.

Councillor Nick Cott, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, said:

'We are keen to avoid a complete lockdown and see a key to tackling the problems in addressing the interactions in bars and restaurants, as whilst we welcome additional restrictions, we need more fundamental and immediate action. The Government can and should do more.'

Liberal Democrats are concerned that neither the Government, nor the North East councils have been taking sufficient action and criticism of the Government by Newcastle's Council leader, Councillor Nick Forbes, suggests their responses are not coordinated.

Councillor Cott continued: 'It is very worrying that at a time like this, the communication between the Councils and the Government is so poor, and this cannot be doing the response to the present crisis any good whatsoever. They need to get a grip.

'Councillor Forbes appears completely on the back foot in relation to this matter and we'll be tabling an emergency question at the full Council meeting next week so he can give a full statement of the Council's position.'