Middlesbrough’s mayor says he refuses to accept government’s new lockdown restrictions

The mayor of Middlesbrough has said he will reject the government’s new lockdown restrictions, which were announced for the town today.

Matt Hancock announced a series of new local lockdowns earlier today, including in Middlesbrough, but mayor Andy Preston has said he is preparing to fight these measures.

The new rules will restrict people meeting indoors with anyone outside their household, with Mr Hancock saying the restrictions already imposed on the North East will be extended to Liverpool, Warrington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough from midnight tomorrow.

But the new measures have had a spanner thrown into the works by Mr Preston, who called out the government’s ‘factually inaccurate’ lockdown and ‘ignorance’.

Mr Preston said: “I have to tell you I think this measure has been introduced based on factual inaccuracies and a monstrous and frightening lack of communication, and ignorance.

“I do not accept the statement at all. I do not accept these measures. We need to talk to government, they need to understand our local knowledge, expertise and ability to get things done, and preserve jobs and well-being.

“We are really disappointed. As things stand, we defy the Government and we do not accept these measures. We need to get Covid under control and we need to work with people to find a way of preserving jobs and mental health.”

While the mayor had called for a ban on households socially mixing in private, he hadn’t wanted that ban to extend to public places like pubs and restaurants.

Anthony Winward / Wikimedia

While making the announcement earlier, Mr Hancock urged everyone to follow the rules.

The health secretary said: “By its nature, this virus spreads through social contact and so it’s had a terrible impact on the hospitality sector, who in good times exist to encourage that very social contact that we all enjoy.

“We’ve had to take difficult but necessary decisions to suppress the virus. The only alternative to suppressing the virus is to let it rip and I will not do that.

“So, while I know that many of the individual rules are challenging, they are necessary and there are those early signs that they’re working.”

He added: “There are no changes to measures in West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Leicester, Lancashire or the rest of Greater Manchester.”