Hartlepool MP calls for urgent meeting with Health Secretary Matt Hancock over lockdown

As of Saturday, October 3, strict new restrictions on the town will apply on households visiting each other in their homes.

Writing to Matt Hancock on Friday, Mr Hill says he has not had any communications with him or the Department of Health.

He wrote: “Our local council made recommendations to you for restrictions which appear to have been completely overlooked, which I find unacceptable.

"I would like to discuss this issue with you as soon as possible”.

Mr Hill says the Government has ‘basically ignored’ the council’s attempt to see arrangements which would protect people’s right to meet and associate outside the home and protect the local hospitality sector.

"What they asked for was a series of measures aimed at tackling the specific problem of the virus spreading within households primarily, while protecting the right for families and friends to meet outside of the home in places like pubs, cafes and restaurants,” he said.

And he condemned the way details of the new rules had been announced: "For the Council to find out via a Government press release and subsequent statement in the House by the Secretary of State, Matt Hancock, is a snub and a slap in the face,” said Mr Hill.

“Equally for myself as MP, and my colleague Andy McDonald MP for Middlesbrough, the lack of engagement by the Government on this matter has been woeful.

"Before the recent lock down in the North East from Durham to Northumbria all MP’s affected were consulted by Health Minister Nadine Dorris – not so in the case of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

"There has been no consultation with local MPs from Ministers on these imposed restrictions whatsoever and I will be taking this up as a matter of urgency in the House.

"Not only have the Government acted in this instance with impunity when it comes to their Parliamentary obligations, but they are behaving like dictators when it comes to my constituents and their representatives on the Council.

“Back funded by a pathetic £7 Million pot of extra money, to be shared between the City of Liverpool, Warrington, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool between them, the Government’s actions are nothing short of an insult.”

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