Hartlepool MP backs new lockdown but slams Government handling of the announcement

But Mike Hill criticised confusion over schools opening and the timing of the announcement.

"The Prime Minister’s announcement is the right decision,” he said.

With the spread of the new variant and the rapidly increasing infection and death rates, this decision is overdue.

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision on schools, even though it contradicts directly the advice of his minister from just hours previously.”

But he said the Boris Johnson Minister had been wrong to hesitate: “The Prime Minister had the data on schools for days and was well aware that pupils and teachers should not have been put through the confusion of the last 48 hours,” said Mr Hill.

"Delaying only damaged the situation further. Saving lives must be a priority.”

And he slammed the decision to announce a lockdown on the day many were back at work after the Christmas break: “Once again, there was no clarity on how these rules should be applied. People must be given time to prepare, not given unclear instructions at 8PM the day before they have to act on them.

“The Government must announce further support measures to help those in work and fix the problems with the Covid support schemes. People cannot live without an income and there are too many people still left behind from the first lockdown. These people must be helped and supported.

"Small businesses and self-employed people play a huge role in our economy and we must do all that we can to support them.

“The best way to ensure that people are willing to play by the rules is to support them. We must all follow the rules if we are to beat this pandemic, but we must provide people with the means to follow the rules. That means supporting businesses which cannot operate and supporting self-employed people and sole traders.

“The next few weeks will be some of the hardest we have ever faced but we will face it together and we will get through it. I encourage you all to follow the advice of the Government: Stay at home. Protect our NHS. Save Lives.”

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