'Needless' lockdown will leave the hospitality industry in tatters, says council leader
A Tory council leader has hit out at the Government for ordering a "needless" national lockdown that will leave the hospitality industry in tatters.
Councillor Patrick Harley said the four-week lockdown, which MPs are set to vote through tomorrow, would be a "hammer blow" for the hospitality sector, resulting in many pubs across the region shutting down for good.
The Dudley Council leader criticised Ministers for bowing to scientific advisers, who he said had failed to produce evidence backing up the need for strict measures – a decision he likened to "Project Fear all over again".
Councillor Harley said: "I don't think a national lockdown is needed. A couple of weeks ago they said it wouldn't happen, and now it is happening.
"Yes, the figures are going up, but I don't believe SAGE [the Government's scientists] has produced one report to date that stands up to scrutiny.
"The report they showed the Government that enabled them to make the decision... I would like that report to be given to all MPs so they can scrutinise the data and debate it in Parliament.
"What we have now is the scientists going on the television and showing us graphs where the details are far too small to see. It is laughable and they need to be challenged on the data."
Councillor Harley likened the situation to the EU referendum campaign's Project Fear, when Remainers warned of catastrophic consequences if Britain left the EU.
He referred to a press briefing in September when the Government's chief scientific advisor Patrick Vallance claimed there would be "50,000 cases a day by mid-October".
"We are now in November and we are not even halfway there yet according to the official figures," Councillor Harley said. "It is Project Fear all over again."
Councillor Harley, who runs two pubs including The Green Man in Swindon, said the lockdown would devastate the hospitality industry.
"There is no doubt this is a hammer blow for hospitality," he said. "The only saving grace is that we have furlough extended so we can retain staff, although we have yet to see the full financial details of what help is available.
"I fear that some of the pubs will close on Wednesday evening and they will never reopen.
"We have had all these member of parliament jumping up and down about too many pub closures, and calling for pubs to be saved... and yet this year we will probably see a record number of pubs close for good.
'Dangerous'
"Our pub never closed in World War One and Two yet we have closed for four months this year and we're about to close for another month."
Councillor Harley added: "The people of Dudley, by and large, have complied throughout all of it and this is another test for us.
"I'm sure that people will rally round and do what's needed to try and suppress the numbers.
"We have to stick to the rules and follow the guidance. We all have one common goal: to get rid of this virus once and for all."
Meanwhile, Sandwell's public health chief, Lisa McNally, said the borough was "responding to more outbreaks than ever", with schools, factories and shops are being hit regularly.
She said infection rates were now at a "dangerous level" and urged people to report outbreaks early to help the authority get them under control.
There have also been small outbreaks in places of worship, she said, adding: "Sandwell's faith leaders have taken Covid-19 very seriously so far and have done a great job in protecting their communities."
Pat McFadden, the Shadow City Minister and Wolverhampton South East MP, said the upcoming lockdown would have a far greater cost to the economy than if measures had been implemented for two weeks back on September 21.
Birmingham Northfield MP Gary Sambrook said there were "specks of light at the end of the tunnel" in the form of a planned rapid testing regime and the development of a vaccine.
Dr Justin Varney, the director of public health in Birmingham, said a "much tighter" lockdown was necessary because across the country too many people had not paid attention to the regulations, and failed to isolate after testing positive.
"Whether we get out of this in December or not will depend on how well people abide by it, because it is what we do each day that really makes a difference," he said.
