The government isn't picking up the phone- Hull MP
Karl Turner has accused the Government of leaving the city behind during a public health emergency
One of Hull's MPs has accused the Government of "leaving the city behind" during a public health emergency.
Karl Turner says he's shocked that ministers aren't "picking up the phone" to council leaders, as the city struggles with the worst coronavirus rates in the country.
"We were already on our knees before this pandemic hit, " Mr. Turner said. "Ministers need to look closely at what they can be doing. We have been left behind by this Boris Johnson Tory government".
New figures show Hull has the highest transmission rates in England, with 776.4 cases per 100,000 people- up from the previous week's figure of 686.
The council is now asking for the power to close schools, with more than half seeing outbreaks.
"There will be a point where schools can't protect teachers and pupils"
Mr. Turner has backed closing schools if headteachers say that's what they need to do to protect children and staff from the virus.
"There will be a point where schools say we can't maintain the health and safety of our staff, and the children that they're there to serve" Mr. Turner said.
But he added that he's not heard from any headteachers who want to close schools yet.
It's as the council pleads with the Government to be given more control over the restrictions in Hull.
Yesterday, council leader Stephen Brady wrote a personal letter to Boris Johnson, warning him about the situation in the city.
Mr. Brady said the infection rate in the city has risen at an "astonishing and terrifying rate''.
He wrote: "Hull and our people have dealt with some huge challenges in the past, and we have always overcome them, but, on this occasion, as has too frequently been the case in the past, we seem, once again, to be the forgotten city.''
A council spokeswoman said public health officials were warning that the peak in Hull- which has seen close to 300 coronavirus deaths- is yet to come.
Mr. Brady said the city's leaders had not received any contact from the Government - despite the rate being more than double that of cities offered support prior to the national lockdown.