Call for answers over Tier 4 for Portsmouth, Havant and Gosport

Officials in Portsmouth and Gosport are calling on the government to provide data about the threat posed by the new strain of coronavirus.

They were placed in Tier 4, along with Havant, at the weekend.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has written a letter to the Prime Minister: "On Thursday last week, Portsmouth and some of the surrounding area was moved up from Tier 2 to Tier 3. Two days later, the government announced that we would be moving up to Tier 4. This was very hard for people who will now have all their plans for Christmas ruined and many people will be left alone and lonely at Christmas.

"This decision was made without any consultation with Portsmouth City Council, and no evidence has been given to us about what the infection areas are for the new version of the virus.

"We would like to know what additional support there will be for businesses forced to close on the busiest week of their year. Shops, restaurants and bars will all have banked on a bumper week to get them through the lean months of January and February. The Kings Theatre in Southsea was brave enough to put on a pantomime, but this has now been cancelled. What support can you offer these businesses to stop then going bust?

"People in Portsmouth will obey the new restrictions to make sure that they are able to keep the virus at bay, but people need to know that the government is in control of the situation, and it appears that you are not. We can no longer cope with this level of chaos in government. A national crisis calls for cool heads and clear leadership, none of which is evident at the moment."

Leader of Gosport Borough Council also wants answers.

Councillor Mark Hook said: "Gosport's infection rate is 144 per 100,000 so I can't understand why we have been moved into tier four when some of our neighbouring areas remain in tier two and I've asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to explain the decision.

"I fully understand the need to protect people from the virus and I feel that people in Gosport have done a good job with that and worked hard to follow the rules. A lot of local businesses will suffer because of this and I'd encourage people to support them by shopping online locally where they can

"I know the announcement of these new restrictions will come as a blow to many people, in particular the changes for Christmas, but it is vitally important everyone in Gosport follows the new rules.

"Pressure on hospitals and the NHS in our region is growing and, while people want to celebrate together, this year we're all going to have a different Christmas.

"People need to continue to think carefully about everything they are doing, in particular minimise travelling and stay local wherever possible. We will keep essential council services going throughout this period and I'm confident Gosport's community spirit will help us get through this together."

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan (Labour) said: Stephen Morgan MP said: “Throughout this crisis the government has been two steps behind, and it is our communities and front-line workers that have paid the price.

“The new variant appears to spread the infection at a much faster rate than the original strain, posing renewed risk to our city and threatening to overwhelm local health services.

“Whilst I have asked for clarity from Ministers in Parliament on the new variant and what this will mean for our area, the answers have not been forthcoming.

“Time is of the essence, so I am today urging the Government to share data and improve testing to make sure we can quickly understand the scale of the challenge we now face, protect ourselves and our NHS. We cannot be caught on the backfoot again.

Ministers can take the British people with them on these decisions if they rebuild public confidence and are transparent about the data”.