Harrogate MP's strict message to public on lockdown rules

Harrogate College takes 'difficult decision' to cancel all January exams and plans mass testing of students and staff

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones said the basic message was for everyone to stay at home, unless strictly necessary.

Mr Jones said: "The news from the NHS is of a system under intense pressure. We can all play our part by being compliant as much as we can.

"We know what we have to do. The message is very clear. We need to control the virus and give the NHS space while it rolls out the vaccine."

With infection rates still soaring, and the country's chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, warning today that the next few weeks will be "the worst" of the pandemic, Mr Jones said he felt that people's reaction to the latest lockdown was different to the original called by the Government last March.

Mr Jones said: "The first lockdown was a bit of a novelty, if an unwelcome one, and the weather was nice.

"There was a more positive spirit around. This one feels like a hard slog."

Speculation has been growing over the weekend that the Government was about to toughen the rules again further - including banning people from different households who are not in a support bubble from exercising together, as well as making wearing masks mandatory in offices.

There may also be increased fines for rule-breakers of the kind highlighted in the national press when Derbyshire police issued two women with £200 fines when they went for a walk on Wednesday at a beauty spot about five miles from their home.

Mr Jones said the vaccination brought real hope the pandemic would be under control this year but that he supported lockdown measures whenever required.

He said: "I voted for the new lockdown restrictions in Parliament last week. I did so because I wanted to see the lockdown depress infection rates.

"Opinion polling shows the public are in favour of lockdown policies by four to one.

"We know when people mix we see the spread of the virus. There can be no compromise on hard-won British civil liberties but the over whelming view in Parliament is to get on with lockdown but with parliamentary scrutiny.

"The rules last until March 31 but it only gives the Government the capacity to keep a lockdown until then, it does not mean they are doing it."

MP praises vaccine rollout in Harrogate but expresses dismay at verbal abuse of NHS staff

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