Tier system 'right way forward' says Scarborough and Whitby MP
The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Robert Goodwill, has given his thoughts on the post-lockdown tier system as Parliament votes on it tonight.
The MP for Scarborough and Whitby has given his thoughts on the post-lockdown tier system.
The restrictions will be voted on by Parliament tonight before they come into effect tomorrow.
The borough's been placed into Tier 2 with leisure and hospitality businesses being able to re-open.
Robert Goodwill said:
"I think the tier system is the right way forward because it recognises the level of infection in particular areas. I think we've dodged a bullet in North Yorkshire given how dramatically, particularly in Scarborough and Whitby, the cases have fallen since lockdown.
"I certainly argued with Kevin Hollinrake that we should look at the districts and boroughs in isolation, particularly as North Yorkshire is so large, but we're not in a small, compact metropolitan authority where people would move around.
"Let's see how the figures progress and if Scarborough can continue to reduce the numbers then in two weeks time, if it's come down by an equivalent amount, then we might even be in the low tens of cases, then we certainly will be making that point. But I think it just shows how much progress can be made if people behave sensibly.
"I think as we see cases continue to fall, I hope that the whole of North Yorkshire will be able to move into Tier 1 at some point in the future. I mean the figures are almost unbelievable, we're not the highest in North Yorkshire anymore.
"I'm disappointed that the cases in the borough got so high because of a number of people not obeying the rules, and a number of locations where people were illegally gathering. I think people got a little bit complacent that they could meet together in their homes and not spread the disease; sadly that wasn't the case.
"There were very real concerns that we could be in Tier 3 and if we had 570 cases, as we had two weeks ago, then we would have been in Tier 3 and that would have meant that pubs and restaurants couldn't have opened, not even for food; therefore it's great news that we can have them opening."
Robert Goodwill, Scarborough and Whitby MP, has been speaking to Greatest Hits Radio's Karen Liu: